Post-High School

Opportunities for post-high school education are available for many young adults with developmental disabilities. Continuing education courses at local colleges or vocational schools, adult education programs at local high schools, and career training programs are available in each of the six counties in our area.

Ideally, learning should be lifelong. Education for young adults with developmental disabilities doesn't have to stop after high school. Opportunities include continuing education courses at community colleges, local colleges and universities, vocational/technical schools, adult basic education programs, and career training programs.

As parents and young adults begin to plan post-high school educational programs, they should:

  • Discuss opportunities for post-high school education with your supports coordinator from the Office of Mental Retardation/BSU and with your counselor from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
  • When a young adult's vocational goal requires additional training or education, the OVR counselor will research facilities that can provide appropriate employment training.
  • Ask your OVR counselor about centers run by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry that offer services ranging from vocational evaluation and career exploration to independent living skills.

More than 60 colleges and universities nationwide offer courses for students with developmental disabilities on their campuses. For more information, go to ThinkCollege.

In Pennsylvania, the State College School District and Penn State University have developed the LifeLink program. LifeLink currently support 24 students (7 full-time in the program and 17 part-time). Students attend classes on-campus with PSU student mentors, volunteers, and interns. In addition, students participate in job shadowing, volunteer and competitive employment opportunities, appropriate transition planning, and access activities, programs, resources, and other educational, vocational and social opportunities. For more information, visit the Penn State College of Education LifeLink.

Berks County Transition Coordinating Council, Berks County Intermediate Unit
1111 Commons Blvd.
PO Box 16050
Reading, PA 19612-6050
610-987-8495
www.berksiu.org

Post-high school educational opportunities available

Freedom Valley Disabilities Center
3607 Chapel Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: (610) 353-6640

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Berks County are:

  • Local high school adult education classes
  • Reading Area Community College

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Bucks County are:

  • Local high school adult education classes
  • OVR Services
    Norristown
    Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    1875 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401-3146
    Voice - 484-250-4340
    TTY - 484-250-4357
    Toll Free in PA - 800-221-1042
    TTY Toll Free in PA - 888-616-0470
  • PA CareerLink
    Bucks County PA CareerLink - Bristol
    1260 Veterans Highway
    Bristol, PA 19007
    Phone - 215-781-1073
  • Bucks County PA CareerLink - East Rockhill
    1 Hillendale Drive
    Perkasie, PA 18944
    Phone - 215-258-7755

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Chester County are:

  • Local high school adult education classes
  • Chester County Alliance Adult Training and Education
  • Chester County Community College Occupational Education
  • Community Education (non-credit)
  • OVR Services
    Norristown
    Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    1875 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401-3146
    Voice - 484-250-4340
    TTY - 484-250-4357
    Toll Free in PA - 800-221-1042
    TTY Toll Free in PA - 888-616-0470
  • PA CareerLink
    Chester County PA CareerLink
    250 East Harmony Street
    Coatesville, PA 19320-5409
    Phone - 610-384-9393

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Delaware County are:

  • Local high school adult education classes
  • Delaware County Community College Occupational Education
  • Community Education (non-credit)
  • OVR Services
    Norristown
    Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    1875 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401-3146
    Voice - 484-250-4340
    TTY - 484-250-4357
    Toll Free in PA - 800-221-1042
    TTY Toll Free in PA - 888-616-0470
  • PA CareerLink
    Delaware County PA CareerLink
    701 Crosby Street, Suite B
    Chester, PA 19013-6096
    Phone - 610-447-3350
  • Delaware County PA CareerLink DCCC)
    Delaware County Community College
    901 South Media Line Road
    Media, PA 19063-1094
    Phone - 610-723-6000

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Montgomery County are:

  • Local high school adult education classes
  • Montgomery County Alliance Adult Training and Education
  • Montgomery County Community College Occupational Education
  • Community Education (non-credit)
  • OVR Services
    Norristown
    Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    1875 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401-3146
    Voice - 484-250-4340
    TTY - 484-250-4357
    Toll Free in PA - 800-221-1042
    TTY Toll Free in PA - 888-616-0470
  • PA CareerLink
    Montgomery County PA CareerLink
    1855 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401-3146
    Phone - 610-270-3429

Among the post-high school educational opportunities available in Philadelphia County are:

  • Adult education classes in local high schools
  • Girls High School
    Evening program for adults with disabilities
    1400 W. Olney Ave.
    Philadelphia PA 19141
    215-276-5258
  • Community College of Philadelphia
    Center on Disability
    1700 Spring Garden St.
    215-751-8050
  • Settlement Music School
    Campuses throughout Philadelphia
    215-637-2077
  • PA CareerLink
    North Philadelphia PA CareerLink
    990 W. Spring Garden Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19123-2606
    Phone - 215-560-5465
  • South Philadelphia PA CareerLink
    930 Washington Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19147
    Phone - 215-952-1143
    FAX - 215-952-1024
    TTY - 215-952-1160
  • Northwest Philadelphia PA CareerLink
    235 W. Chelten Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19144
    Phone - 215-560-5187
    FAX - 215-560-6880
    TTY - 215-560-5158
  • Northeast Philadelphia PA CareerLink
    3210 Red Lion Road
    Philadelphia, PA 19114
    Phone - 215)281-1038
    FAX - 215-632-6053
    TTY - 215-632-6451
  • Olney PA CareerLink Center
    6055 North 5th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19120
    Phone - 215-276-8830
    FAX - 215-224-8150
  • Nueva Esperanza
    4261 North 5th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19120
    Phone - 215-324-0746

You and your son or daughter should:

  • Discuss opportunities for post-high school education with your supports coordinator from the Office of Mental Retardation/BSU and with your counselor from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
  • When a young adult's vocational goal requires additional training or education, the OVR counselor will research facilities which can provide appropriate employment training.
  • Ask your OVR counselor about the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown PA. This center, run by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry, offers services ranging from vocational evaluation and career exploration to independent living skills.

There are now more than 60 colleges and universities offering courses for students with developmental disabilities on their campuses. For more information, go to www.thinkcollege.net.
In Pennsylvania, the State College School District and Penn State University have developed the LifeLink program. LifeLink currently support 24 students (7 full-time in the program and 17 part-time). Students attend classes on-campus with PSU student mentors, volunteers, and interns. In addition, students participate in job shadowing, volunteer and competitive employment opportunities, appropriate transition planning, and access activities, programs, resources, and other educational, vocational and social opportunities. For more information, go to www.ed.psu.edu/news/lifelinkpsu.asp

The University of Maryland has developed an online training entitled Individual Supports to Increase Access to an Inclusive College Experience for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. This online training provides an overview of the major steps involved in creating individual supports to access postsecondary education It includes step-by-step instructions, downloadable examples and forms, a glossary, list of acronyms, FAQ, and related web resources. Visit http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=178

The Research Institute for Assistive and Training Technologies provides assistive technology instruction to professionals through either distance (on-line) education or face-to-face (on-site) instruction. Through the use of print, videos, CD-ROMs, and hands-on-materials, you can earn graduate degrees (i.e., Masters or Post- Masters), university credit (graduate, undergraduate, or CEUs), professional development hours, and Specialists Certificates. Visit www.nasdse.com for more information.

  • The College Living Experienceis a post-secondary support service residential program that helps students attending one of several colleges or universities, often located right across the street from our tutorial facility. We offer intensive academic, independent living skills, and social skills support so that students can study and live in a normal college environment. The students at the College Living Experience vary greatly in their strengths, backgrounds, and reasons for attending CLE. Typically, our students range from low/average to highly gifted IQ, with a primary diagnosis of LD, ADD/ADHD, students with Psychosocial-Maturational issues or PDD (high-functioning Autism, Asperger's, NVLD). It is our goal to integrate students with differing diagnoses to create an environment that most closely resembles the real world, where each of us has unique strengths and gifts. We create our own "mini" campus where we can all learn from each other.
  • DO-IT Knowledge Base.The Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) project at the University of Washington has created a comprehensive Web-based "Knowledge Base" database containing over 300 articles. Users can find answers to questions about assistive technology, accessible information technology, college and career transition, universal design of instruction, student services, and other topics, as well as case studies and promising practices.
  • Checklist for Preparing a Student with a Disability for Collegeprovides guidance through the high school years for students and their advocates to prepare for college. It is part of the G.E.T. Ready (Graduation, Education, Transition) postsecondary education outcome material.
  • Institute for Community Inclusion
  • National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
  • PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights)
  • Wright's Law
  • MyCityMyPlace- Philadelphia's Resource Directory for people with mental retardation, families and professionals.

Additional Resources:

Especially useful for schools, counselors, and special educators: This www.postitt.org is an excellent resource to use with college bound students with disabilities (special education or 504 plans). The site is very user-friendly and has free, downloadable resources for students, parents, teachers and counselors. For example, there is a "senior checklist" on the site that is student-centered and useful in transition planning. You will find that the colleges are geared toward the Pacific Northwest, but it is still an excellent model to show how to make connections with disability coordinators at the higher education level.