According to Legislative Gazette.com the state Board of Regents, which sets educational policy for the State of New York, is discussing the creation of an alternative to the Individual Educational Program diplomas (IEP). The IEP diplomas, which some believe hinder students with the disabilities who receive them, from furthering their education and securing employment, are granted to those thought incapable of meeting the requirements of a traditional high school diploma.

Assemblyman Joel M. Miller,R-Poughkeepsie, applauded the Regents for “looking at alternative diplomas that cover a broad range of student capability and student interest and in no way reflects the differences that one student has compared to another in the area of academics or even vocational skills.” He said the state needs a diploma that clearly spells out to an employer or institution of learning what a given student's capabilities are, "and the IEP diploma does not do that. So it's time to get rid of it."

Decisions to place students on a track toward an IEP diploma often are made earlier than necessary in a student's educational career, which sometimes results in lowered expectations for that student. Also, once this decision is made, a student cannot take classes for credit in order to graduate with a regular high school diploma. IEP diplomas often limit post-secondary opportunities, such as a college education or employment.

"By scraping the IEP diploma and replacing it with a new credential system we have a unique opportunity to create an umbrella diploma that doesn't lower a students' expectations or limit their post-graduate opportunities," Miller said.

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Labels: diploma, IEP, New York, students

Employment services for high school students with developmental disabilities help support young adults gain and maintain employment after graduation from high school. Job support needs are determined individually, and can vary significantly from person to person. The amount, duration, and intensity fluctuate depending on the needs of the person, the job tasks, and the work environment. Once employed, persons with developmental disabilities typically need support from trained job coaches for a number of reasons that may include a change in the workplace or business, a change in supervisors or co-workers, the addition of new tasks, and most commonly, communicating with the employer.

The funding spent to assist entry into jobs and careers for these graduating students provides a return on Washington State’s special education investment. Long term follow-along support is essential for successful employment – for the individual, as well as the employer.

• Please support the Division of Developmental Disabilities Budget Decision Package for the 2010 Supplemental Budget, and provide funding to support the 343 students graduating during this Biennium who are on a waiver. $1.8 M. ($764,000 GFS using the enhanced federal match rate).
• Please fund the remaining 1, 010 graduates by allocating additional waiver slots to provide these vital services. For every dollar spent on waiver services, the State receives a Federal dollar match. This creates a win for the State, and a win for individuals with developmental disabilities to capitalize on their education and find meaningful community employment. $5.2 M. ($2.2 M GFS using the enhanced federal match rate ).

Visit the Community Employment Alliance website to learn more about 2010 Washington State Legislative issues.

Labels: disabilities, school, students