WASHINGTON — Students with disabilities deserve access to higher education to achieve their dreams and goals like everyone else. That is the message several panelists delivered Thursday at a session on the Improving Access to Higher Education Act.
As part of the House Education and Workforce Committee Democrats’ “Aim Higher” initiative, U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) and ranking member on the committee, Bobby Scott (D-Va.), worked together in developing the Improving Access to Higher Education Act, presented as the first comprehensive legislation that specifically focuses on the needs of disabled students in higher education.
The bill that was introduced on Wednesday would amend the Higher Education Act (HEA) to improve access for students with disabilities after completing high school.
Experts say the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has proven beneficial for students in K-12, but disabled students in higher education have not had as much support.
“We need to make sure access to higher education is alive and well for those with disabilities,” said Scott. “We focused on the needs of those with disabilities in K through 12 … Our next step is to make sure those opportunities are available for those in higher education.”
Disabled panelist Daniel Castellanos, a 2016 graduate of Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania, went through Millersville’s post-high school Integrated Studies initiative that caters to young adults with an intellectual disability (ID).
“Once you enter the class this is not like any special ed class. You’re in a regular class with the regular students, it’s a lot more opportunity and a lot more experience to make new friends outside of class and inside of class,” said Castellanos.
