The passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act in 2008 triggered an increase in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs across the United States, giving students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to enroll in typical college courses. A multiple case study of IPSE programs at five institutions of higher…

Expository writing is a highly valued employability skill (Finley, 2023) and a necessary competency for college students to master due to its often-used format within college assignments (Schillings et al., 2023). As students in postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities attend traditional…

College students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are transitioning to more autonomous college settings in recent years. Intimacy education has been identified as a potential need; yet, there are factors that could facilitate or inhibit access to education, experiences, and support efforts in this area. The Continuum of…

This study aimed to understand the ways in which college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience and develop their understanding of emotions and emotional wellness. Semi-structured interviews with college students with IDD were conducted. The research team utilized consensual qualitative research (CQR) to analyze…

This study is a needs assessment of Extension staff in the state of Iowa to implement inclusive programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Electronic surveys were completed by Extension staff on their attitudes and beliefs toward people with IDD, inclusive programming, and training needs. Results showed…

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SWIDD) often require academic, employment, and social support to be successful in inclusive postsecondary education programs. One way to provide support in these areas is via peer mentorship. In addition to SWIDD obtaining the support they need; peer mentors also benefit from the…

This multi-manuscript dissertation comprises two interconnected articles that collectively explore the experiences of college students with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) engaging in wellness interventions within inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) settings in the southeastern region of the United States. Wellness…

With the increase in college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) enrolled in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs, there is a growing call to understand additional support necessary for their mental health and wellness. Our IPSE program developed the personal development (PD) domain to meet the unique…

Poor social skills is a leading factor why individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) lose their jobs. Fortunately, the use of technology has made learning and teaching social skills more seamless and integrated in employment contexts. We conducted a multiple-probe-across-participants single-case experimental design study…

Belonging is an essential human need, regardless of whether or not one has a disability, and has been found to positively impact one's physical and mental health. Feelings of belonging for college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have largely been unexplored in research. Using the 10 Dimensions of Belonging…

The rapid growth of inclusive higher education opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has contributed to improvements in students' academics, employment, social, and independent living outcomes. However, many college programs lack a focus on functional literacy, a critical skill for success in…

Peers have a prominent place within peer-mediated interventions (PMI). Understanding how they might benefit from their experiences supporting students with disabilities is an emerging area of much-needed research. This qualitative study was designed to identify the breadth of ways peers report being affected by their diverse experiences. We held…

The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize research to date on school-based, food-related interventions (e.g., cooking, grocery shopping, food-related literacy, eating behavior) for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The second purpose was to evaluate the quality of eligible studies according to the design…

This doctoral capstone project assesses the impact and effectiveness of using peer mentoring workbooks as a tool to enhance the transition of college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A peer mentoring workbook was developed using theoretical frameworks to guide its design and identification of primary occupations, roles,…

An experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of a classroom-based purchasing skills intervention designed to teach postsecondary students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the one-dollar-more purchasing strategy. The experimental group students (n = 12) completed the intervention first,and the control group participants…