Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in inclusive higher education: perceptions of stakeholders in a first-year experience

Post-secondary education and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) have not historically been viewed as compatible. In recent years, a growing number of colleges have offered opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to take part in inclusive post-secondary education. This qualitative study was conducted on the performance of a first-year, post-secondary inclusive education programme in a university in the United States to (a) better understand each stakeholder group's perspectives regarding both social and academic inclusion of students with ID/DD in post-secondary education, (b) identify barriers, challenges, strengths and needs of the programme through the first-year experiences and, (c) report on the successful inclusion of students in an inclusive post-secondary environment. Recommendations and learned strategies are also discussed.

Automated summary

In recent years, more colleges have offered opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to participate in higher education. This qualitative study focuses on the performance of a first-year inclusive education programme at a university in the United States, aiming to understand stakeholders' perspectives and report on the successful inclusion of students in a post-secondary environment. Recommendations and strategies are also discussed.