A college, university, or technical school education is increasingly recognized as a very real option for many young people on the autism spectrum (Adreon & Durocher, 2007; Briel & Getzel, 2009). This includes many who are described as having “intellectual impairments” (Hart, Grigal, & Weir, 2010). Although we do not know the exact number of people with ASD who attend college or graduate, we do know that most do not participate in post-secondary education (Briel & Getziel, 2009), often making it difficult for them to achieve their career and life goals.
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The Individualized Education Program or IEP is a written statement describing a child with a disability’s learning goals and the supports that the school will provide to help the child achieve those goals. IEPs were first mandated under Education of All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 – now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal legislation that entitles children with disabilities to a free public education. The law has been amended three times since 1975, when it was first enacted as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.
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Find out more information on going to college, the opportunities available for people with autism and other developmental disabilities at college, how to look for the right college and much more.
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Transition planning is a results-oriented process designed to facilitate the successful movement of high school-aged youth with disabilities from school to adult life. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (2004) requires that transition services be included in a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) when she or he is 16 years old or younger. (Some states require the process to begin at 14).
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