Experiences and Impact of Florida College Programs as Seen through the Lens of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Compared to all students with exceptionalities, people with intellectual disabilities (InD) have the poorest outcomes after high school regarding employment rate, advancement in education, and independent living (Hart et al., 2006). "Financial, legislative, and philosophical support for post-secondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with InD have resulted in significant increases in the number of such programs offered across the country" (Plotner & Marshall, 2015, p.58). In recent years, more Florida colleges have started offering PSE programs for people with InD since the reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). There have been research studies that give insight to the experiences of faculty, family/caregivers, college mentors, high school students with InD, and college students without intellectual disabilities who might possibly have other disabilities, (Carey, 2019; Corby et al., 2020; Farley, 2014; Fekete, 2013; Fisher, 2008; Griffin et al., 2010; Hampton & Xiao, 2009; Izzo & Shuman, 2013; May, 2012; & Sheen, 2017); however, there is a notable scarcity of research focusing on the experiences and post-college program outcomes of people with InD from their perspective. This qualitative research, using a multiple method approach, provides a unique and insightful exploration of the participants' narratives through a semi-structured interview that employed photo elicitation. The researcher collected stories from each participant detailing their lived college experiences and program outcomes. The photographs provided by the participants were used in the interview to facilitate conversation and increase understanding of the impact that their college experience had on their lives. Overall, participants overwhelmingly convey positive sentiments regarding their college experiences, emphasizing the acquisition of valuable resources, opportunities for personal growth, and robust support systems. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]