Wayne State University’s Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) is sponsoring a statewide conference on college programs for students with disabilities on Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Fairlane Center – University of Michigan, in Dearborn. The conference, “Think College! Post-Secondary Education (PSE) for Students with Intellectual Disabilities,” focuses on a new frontier offering students with disabilities an opportunity to earn a higher education degree.

This symposium brings together leading experts, researchers, practitioners and consumers on postsecondary education who will provide an overview of PSE opportunities and discuss current trends, issues and solutions for PSE initiatives.

Two of the pioneers and researchers in the field will present at the Nov. 5 symposium: Meg Grigal, director of TransCen, Inc\'s Postsecondary Research Center (PERC), and Debra Hart, director of the Institute for Community Inclusion, College Career Connection Project. Stephan Hamlin-Smith, executive director of the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), will provide the keynote address. Mike Flanagan, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction, is also scheduled to speak.

Nationally, there is heightened interest in the implementation of PSE opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. This model of learning on a college campus is characterized by high expectations, increased and meaningful opportunities to strengthen skills and an opportunity to learn and live with same-aged peers in an inclusive setting. DDI, Michigan\'s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, is dedicated to the development of inclusive communities, the enhancement of the quality of life of people with disabilities and the enrichment of the field of disability research and service.

Wayne State University has a distinctive history of being among few postsecondary institutions that initiated an office dedicated to serving students with disabilities on a university campus. In 1971, WSU’s Educational Accessibility Services (EAS) was launched providing services for the disability community. At that time, it was developed for students with physical disabilities, and focused on issues such as rehabilitation, parking, curb cuts and facilities matters. In 1991, EAS was expanded adding computerized technology such as Dragon Dictate, JAWS, readers, scribes and alternative testing. Today, EAS has grown increasing its services by offering study and adaptive technology labs.

The symposium is open to interested stakeholders including students, families, advocacy groups, higher education, school personnel (especially related to transition), vocational rehabilitation, community mental health and other related groups.

For a copy of the brochure and registration form, click on http://www.ddi.wayne.edu/pdf/pse_symposium_brochure.pdf. To download a copy of the PSE Symposium Schedule, click here. To request a hardcopy of the conference brochure and registration form, or the symposium schedule, contact DDI’s Latosha Marshall at (313) 577-2654.

Symposium scholarships are available for persons with disabilities and family members from Michigan through the generosity of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC). Contact Elizabeth Janks E.Janks@wayne.edu, or 313-577-6368, for additional information. For updates on the symposium, visit www.ddi.wayne.edu/postsecondary_symposium.php. For more information about the symposium contact Janice Fialka, symposium coordinator, at ruaw@aol.com or phone (248) 546-4870.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.