Thinking About College? Exploring an academic future with middle school students

• In Event: Including and Excluding (Dis)ability

Abstract

A National Center that focuses on college access wanted to learn what middle school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) understand about college. So, staff conducted focus groups with two sets of middle school students, between the ages of 11 and 15, with IDD. Findings indicate that the students have little exposure to college information or counseling. What little they do understand is drawn predominantly from family members’ college experiences and college images that they see in the media.
This presentation includes a review of findings and implications for practice, including improvements in inclusive secondary education that involve integrating elements of college culture into middle school curriculum. Efforts made by staff to address these curriculum gaps will be shared.

Author

• Maria C. Paiewonsky, University of Massachusetts