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Disability Pride Month is not only a time for celebration and recognition of the achievements and contributions of individuals with disabilities, but also an opportunity to reflect on the historical struggles and societal exclusion faced by this community. Throughout history, the disability community has been subjected to prejudice, discrimination, and systemic barriers that have limited their participation in social, cultural, and personal spheres. Understanding this history of exclusion is an important part of our journey towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Historical Exclusion and Discrimination: The exclusion of people with disabilities is deeply rooted in history. The eugenics movement gained popularity in the late 1800s to early 1900s, and promoted the forced sterilization of people determined to have “undesirable” traits–largely, people with disabilities. In 1907, Indiana passed the first eugenics law that made sterilization mandatory for “idiots” and “imbeciles” in state custody. Several other states followed suit with similar laws, even reaching so far as the Supreme Court (Buck v. Bell), allowing unethical sterilization practices to continue. Suprisingly, this Supreme Court ruling has never been overturned, and laws allowing forced sterilization still exist in 31 states plus Washington, D.C.

Segregation and institutionalization were also prevalent. In the past, individuals with disabilities were often confined to asylums, jailed, and otherwise separated from society. This lead to neglect, abuse, and isolation from mainstream society.

Challenging the Status Quo: In recent years, significant strides have been made towards breaking down these barriers and promoting inclusivity. Disability rights movements and advocacy efforts have raised awareness about the importance of equal rights, access to education, employment, and social participation for disabled individuals. Legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has played a pivotal role in combating discrimination and improving accessibility.

However, the work is far from complete. Broader issues such as social exclusion, inaccessible infrastructure, unequal employment opportunities, and limited disability representation in the media continue to present barriers to equitable inclusion. It is our collective responsibility to address these challenges and fosters a society that embraces the diversity, societal contributions, and human rights of people with disabilities.

During Disability Pride Month, we reflect on the historical exclusion and discrimination faced by the disability community. By understanding this past, we can fuel our commitment to a brighter future– breaking down barriers, promoting inclusivity, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. We celebrate the resilience and achievements of the disbaility community while reaffirming our dedication to building a more inclusive society that values the contributions and potential of every individual, regardless of their abilities. Together, we can create a world where disability pride is celebrated every day.

By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune

“As demand for skilled workers rises in Texas, work-based educational programs see a resurgence” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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A warehouse manager in Waco went from earning about $9 an hour to earning more than $140,000 a year, thanks to an associate degree.

In College Station, a student with a developmental disability worked at an animal hospital through a college program tailored to her needs.

And in Austin, a call center worker was paid by her employer to go to college so she could be promoted to a medical assistant position.

In these instances, the students pursued associate degrees, alternative college programs and industry certifications that offer Texans the chance to expand their career options and their salary potential in a state hungry for more qualified workers.

[Texans have many educational credentials to choose from to begin a career. Here’s how to navigate them.]

More than half of jobs in the state require a credential higher than a high school diploma but lower than a bachelor’s degree, according to a report from July 2022. It’s one reason the state is aiming for 60% of Texans ages 25 to 64 to have a certificate or degree by 2030. But just 45% of Texans have the right training for these middle-skilled jobs.

These college and career programs are far more varied than they used to be. Today, Texans across the state are learning everything from computer-aided design and drafting to piloting aircraft through associate degree or certificate programs — and they’ll likely make more money because of it.

Career and technical education

[Texas colleges provide job training for students with disabilities. Here’s how to access it.]

Initiatives helping students to enter the workforce quickly aren’t new, but there is a new focus on equity. To better serve students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, higher education leaders are moving to create shorter or earlier career and technical education opportunities that meet industry standards while offering high school and college students with pathways to bachelor’s and advanced degrees.

This is a marked difference from the history of vocational programs, in which students of color and women were often placed into high school job training classes that offered no pathway to college.

A movement to help all students go to college emerged in the 1990s, said Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, a senior fellow at the National Skills Coalition, a policy and advocacy organization. But with increasing awareness of student debt in the 2000s and greater interest among students and employers in technical education, vocational programs reemerged and evolved into what is now known as career and technical education.

The rise of these programs partially stems from industries and jobs increasingly requiring specialized licenses or credentials, even if it’s not a college degree. For students, these programs are attractive because they allow them to get hands-on practice and, in some cases, paid work experience as they work toward a credential. This can be particularly beneficial for working adults or parents with less time and resources to seek a four-year degree, Bergson-Shilcock said.

Bachelor’s and more advanced degrees generally have a greater financial payoff, but people with two-year associate degrees and certificates in highly technical and in-demand fields, such as engineering technologies, can earn more than people with bachelor’s degrees in some lower-paying industries.

Texas has long invested in work-based education, but “that ramped up over the last couple of legislative sessions as the value of things like apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities became clear,” said Renzo Soto, a higher education policy adviser for Texas 2036, a nonprofit research organization.

Over the last decade, state lawmakers have largely emphasized career preparation in public schools and aligning school curriculum with college tracks and the workforce needs in each region of the state, Soto said.

During the regular legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed legislation to fund community colleges based on whether their students leave with a degree or credential that gets them a well-paying job or into a four-year institution. Right now, Texas State Technical College is the only Texas college that the state specifically funds based on the employment and earnings of its students and graduates, rather than based on the number of hours they are taught. The funding change is expected to go into effect in September.

Technical colleges and careers

In a room filled with rows of yellow robotic arms, students at TSTC’s Waco campus used computers to try to command the arms to read whether a black cutout in front of it was the right size and shape.

Manufacturers use such a process to ensure that the right bolt, screw or item is used to make a product. But this isn’t a factory. It’s a step toward high-paying jobs in manufacturing, production or warehouse operations.

More than two decades ago, Corey Mayo was a warehouse manager, earning about $9 an hour to support his wife and daughter.

“It just wasn’t cutting it for baby formula, diapers, food,” said Mayo, now 48.

So he enrolled at Texas State Technical College to study instrumentation and completed an associate degree in robotics. After more than a decade in the industry, traveling to manufacturing facilities to implement automated operations, he said he earned roughly $140,000 a year because of his ability to “fix anything in a short amount of time.”

“It’s because of everything that I learned here,” he said.

Now, as an instructor of robotics technology at TSTC, he’s helping other students enter a job that’s expected to grow by 12% in Texas while declining nationally.

And Mayo’s 23-year-old son, Dalton, is following in his footsteps and studying robotics technology. He too would like to enter a high-paying field.

First: Justin Meckle, a fourth-semester robotics student at Texas State Technical College in Waco, works on a troubleshooting assignment during class on Oct. 24, 2022. Second: A sign for the college at the entrance of Texas State Technical College in Waco. Last: Jule Preiser, a fourth-semester robotics student, works on an assignment. Credit: Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribune

Stories like theirs are not uncommon at the college, which hires instructors from its graduate pool and sees many families return to the college for its hands-on and fast-tracked programs. The 20-month-long program for an associate degree of applied science in robotics and industrial controls technology costs around $11,640, and a 16-month certificate costs $6,984, according to TSTC. The average wage for an electro-mechanic or robotics technician is about $50,630 in Texas and $60,570 in the U.S., according to federal data.

The college also offers programs for various job fields expected to continue growing, such as cybersecurity and aircraft pilot training.

The aircraft pilot training program is one of the college’s more expensive programs, but pilot pay is on the higher end with average salaries in Texas of more than $180,060 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers and $108,120 for commercial pilots. Tuition and fees for an associate degree in the program are $11,160, but the flight fees bring up the total to an estimated $89,260. Jobs are expected to grow by 21% for commercial pilots and by 14% for airline pilots and engineers in Texas.

The college also hires some of its graduates to serve as certified flight instructors while they work toward the required hours and ratings needed to work as a pilot in other roles.

“I’m already making back money and I’m already paying off my loans,” said Elaine Polster, a 22-year-old recent graduate who is now a certified flight instructor for the college. “If I went to a four-year school, it would be two more years until I did that.”

Associate degrees in applied science, which have a focus on technical education, and certificates are also available at community colleges across the state and through private, for-profit and nonprofit institutions. Examples of other public colleges include Alamo Colleges, Blinn College, San Jacinto College and Dallas College. You can find private technical schools through the Texas Workforce Commission’s directory. Financial aid, scholarships or other help may also be available for associate degrees and qualifying certificates.

You can also read more in our guide to college programs and financial aid.

First: A flight instructor speaks about the benefit of Redbird flight simulations for students at Texas State Technical College in Waco. Second: Students training to become pilots sit in class and watch a video about runway terminology. Last: The interior of a Redbird flight simulator. Credit: Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribune

Apprenticeships

On a Tuesday morning in October, Nora Hernandez Mondragon practiced carefully placing patches on the chest, arms and legs of a classmate lying in a medical examination bed.

The patches, which connect to a tangle of 10 wires, require precise placement to record the heart’s electrical activity in an electrocardiogram, or EKG, to detect irregular heart rhythms and heart attacks.

It’s one of the many things she learned at the Austin Community College’s San Gabriel Campus in Leander over nine weeks. She also learned basic medical terminology and anatomy; how to check a patient’s blood pressure and vital signs; how to administer medicines, including through an injection; and how to draw blood — all without paying a dime.

“It’s the perfect situation,” said Hernandez Mondragon, a 34-year-old Austin resident who worked at a call center for Baylor Scott & White Health. “I get to go learn something and develop myself and still be making income for my family.”

First: Mallory French examines the results of an EKG that she performed at Austin Community College’s Leander Campus on Oct. 4. Second: Jennifer Waldron, a continuing education instructor at Austin Community College, shows students where to put the electrodes when doing an EKG. Last: French connects a lead wire to an electrode on Violet Fields’ leg while performing an EKG. Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune

That’s because Hernandez Mondragon and her five classmates are part of a Baylor Scott & White apprenticeship. Through the program, employees can take an accelerated course at ACC and get hands-on experience to become medical assistants.

“Me being a mom, I would love to go to school but I don’t have the time or the money,” said Hernandez Mondragon, who is raising four children.

After completing the course and 160 hours of work in a clinical setting, Hernandez Mondragon and her classmates will work as medical assistants at Baylor Scott & White Health’s local clinics or hospitals for at least two years. The new job also comes with a pay raise, Hernandez Mondragon said.

Though this program serves Baylor Scott & White employees specifically, it’s one of a number of apprenticeships at ACC and across Texas.

In apprenticeships, individuals get the opportunity to learn and work toward a career, similar to an internship. But apprenticeships are typically longer than internships, include paid work and provide individuals with specialized skills and credentials.

Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship training programs can be offered by companies on their own, unions, trade associations, nonprofits and other organizations. Many apprenticeships focus on trades, but a number of programs are opening more opportunities in growing job fields like health care and tech.

Texans interested in an apprenticeship can look for one through a college, a local job center such as Workforce Solutions or the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, apprenticeship.gov.

Workforce training programs

“I’m locking the chair,” 22-year-old Sydney Hodge said as she practiced locking a wheelchair in place at the front of the classroom. Joe Tate, the class instructor, was sitting in the chair.

“Good. Remember, guys, communicate. The more communication, the better,” he told the handful of other students watching.

Then, Hodge helped Tate get out of the wheelchair, holding a gait belt around his upper waist and letting him place his hands on her shoulders for support as he slowly rose. The rest of the class clapped.

Hodge and her classmates were reviewing how to work as personal care attendants. Earlier that day, they discussed different types of bedpans and the organizations that support people with disabilities.

The class is part of the E4Texas program at the University of Texas at Austin. It prepares students for jobs as personal care attendants, child care workers or teaching assistants. The program is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities, but is also open to people without a disability.

The students also live on campus and get support from program staff to live independently and participate in the community, said Tate, E4’s program manager.

During the three-semester program, students take specialized classes at UT-Austin’s campus, audit other UT courses, volunteer and get work experience. Hodge and her classmate Ayala Montgomery, for example, have been helping care for elderly people as volunteers at AGE of Central Texas.

At the end, students receive a certificate of completion and can get job certifications, but they do not get college credits.

The program also teaches students to advocate for themselves and others. That’s one of the things that drew Montgomery.

“I also wanted to help people that actually struggle with disabilities, like to let them know that ‘you’re not alone, and there’s many people just like you that struggle with the same things day to day,’” said Montgomery, a 20-year-old from Dallas. “I wanted to leave an impact.”

There are other job preparation programs, including for people with disabilities. And if a program is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission, qualifying students may get help covering the program costs.

Texans interested in exploring job preparation programs can learn more and view approved program providers through the Texas Workforce Commission or reach out to local Workforce Solutions centers.

College for students with developmental disabilities

After sending a quick email, Julia Gault turned to work on a PowerPoint presentation she was making for her class. She pointed to images of animals and skateboards on the slides.

“So this is like when I graduate, I want to work at a vet clinic,” she said. “I skateboard, so I put my skateboards.”

Sitting next to Gault during a study hall period at Texas A&M University, Callie Colgrove said, “I want to own my own bakery,” showing off her own PowerPoint. She’s Gault’s best friend and roommate.

The two met through Aggie ACHIEVE, the university’s program designed for students with intellectual disabilities or autism to live independently, experience college and prepare for jobs.

Through the interdisciplinary program, students can take select noncredit courses and physical education courses and participate in student life at A&M. The students have access to graduate assistants who help them navigate classes and live on their own.

Initially, students live on campus. They get a residential mentor who spends five to nine hours a week with them during their freshman year, said Heather Dulas, the program director. As juniors, the students move off campus and can live on their own, though many have chosen to live together as roommates or in the same apartment complex. At the end, students receive a certificate from the university.

The transition was an adjustment for Gault, like for any college student, but through Aggie ACHIEVE she learned how to navigate her schedule and chores, like doing her laundry. Now, she works at an animal hospital, she said, and Colgrove works in the kitchen of a hotel and has baked chocolate pies.

First: Effrosyni Chatzistogianni, an academic graduate assistant with the Aggie ACHIEVE program, helps Matthew Philips, a junior in the program, during office hours at Texas A&M University in College Station on Nov. 15, 2022. Second: Students walk to class on the Texas A&M campus. Last: A list of courses available to students in the Aggie ACHIEVE program. Credit: Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribune

Colleges and universities haven’t always accepted or accommodated students with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but there are now more options for these students.

Aggie ACHIEVE is one of four comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs in Texas. That designation allows students with intellectual disabilities to receive federal financial aid and learn or work along with students without disabilities. Houston Community College, Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of North Texas also have comprehensive transition programs.

These programs range in length, admission and costs. For example, Texas A&M’s program admits about 10 students per year and costs over $30,000 per year because of on-campus housing required for the first two years, program fees and a lack of state aid for the non-degree-seeking students.

There are also other programs and options for students with disabilities to audit courses at public or private colleges, and scholarships or other assistance may be available to help students cover costs. You can read more in our guide to college and job training programs for students with disabilities.

This reporting was supported by the Higher Ed Media Fellowship, which is run by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and funded by the ECMC Foundation.

Disclosure: Baylor Scott & White Health, Houston Community College, San Jacinto College, Texas 2036, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-career-technical-education/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune

June 27, 2023

“Texas colleges provide job training for students with disabilities. Here’s how to access it.” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

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To read a version of this guide written in plain language, click here.

Julia Gault fell in love with Texas A&M University as a high school student when she went to a football game with her dad, who also attended the university.

“I did really want to go college, like really bad,” said Gault, 26. “I mean, everyone else wanted to. I was like, ‘I want to, too.’”

Gault, who has a disability that can make it hard to read, had tried an extended special education program for students with disabilities, but she didn’t like it very much. Today, she’s happy to be studying at Texas A&M through a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Colleges have not always been inclusive of people with disabilities. People with hearing, visual, or other physical or cognitive disabilities who needed additional accommodations were often denied admission into college programs or were institutionalized away from society.

After the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, colleges and schools began to put more energy into making postsecondary education more accessible for people with disabilities, said James Patton, an associate professor in special education at the University of Texas at Austin.

Colleges now can’t discriminate against people with disabilities and must provide “reasonable accommodations,” such as offering note takers, providing written supplements, making classrooms accessible or recording lectures.

And in 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act opened up federal financial aid for the first time for students with intellectual disabilities in certain programs.

Today, there are accommodations and college and career programs designed for students with disabilities to live independently, work and participate in their communities.

[As demand for skilled workers rises in Texas, work-based educational programs see a resurgence]

An estimated 29.5% of Texas adults had a disability in 2020, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Texas public schools, 605,351 students — 11.3% — received special education services during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

“In more recent years, what has dramatically changed, I think, is an effort to get more students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities — so students with some more challenges — into higher education,” Patton said.

Higher levels of education are associated with higher employment rates for people with and without disabilities, and several studies have found that most people with disabilities tend to get jobs after completing postsecondary education programs.

But navigating the programs and available resources can be tricky because students in some programs may only qualify for either state or federal financial assistance, depending on the type of program they pursue. Here’s more information about the options available to Texans and how to find the best fit.

Resources during and after secondary school

In kindergarten through 12th grade, public schools are responsible for identifying students with disabilities and those who may need modifications to curriculum and programs in order to succeed.

In Texas, public school staff must begin exploring postsecondary options for students with disabilities and individualized education programs when students are around 14, according to Texas law. Transition services must be included in a student’s individualized education program by the time they’re 16 years old, according to federal law. Learn more about transition services through the Texas Education Agency’s website or by contacting your school.

It’s important for families to look at options and ask questions early to find the best fit for a student and to prepare for changes, Patton said.

Options can include extended school in some school districts that offer special education services for adult students who are not yet 22 years old. They also include college, job training or trade school programs.

Many universities and colleges have departments that help enrolled students with disabilities, including mental health or developmental conditions, but students are responsible for identifying their disabilities and needed accommodations.

College accommodations may also be less extensive than in schools because individualized education programs are not required after high school, and different laws define disability rights in schools and colleges. Here’s more information from Think College, a national assistance center for students with intellectual disabilities, about the differences in the laws and requirements. You can also learn more about your rights to accommodations through Disability Rights Texas.

Accommodations won’t be enough for every student. Here are some programs designed for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities who may qualify for state or federal financial assistance.

Job training programs

Job training programs prepare students to get jobs, usually in specific occupations and can include industry certifications. And if a program is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission, the costs may be covered by funding for students who have disabilities that seriously limit their functional skills, such as mobility, communication, interpersonal skills or work skills. To learn more about who can qualify for this funding, look up and contact your local Vocational Rehabilitation Office through this website.

E4Texas at UT-Austin is one of the job training programs designed to be more accessible for people with disabilities, including developmental or intellectual disabilities.

In E4, students prepare for jobs as personal care attendants, child care associates or teacher assistants. During the three-semester program, students take specialized classes at UT-Austin’s campus, audit other UT courses, volunteer and get work experience.

It offers extra support from staff for students with disabilities, but it is also open to students without disabilities.

Twenty-year-old Ayala Montgomery of Dallas has an intellectual disability that sometimes makes it hard for her to comprehend words when she’s reading. She said one of the reasons she joined E4 was to connect with fellow students with disabilities.

“I also wanted to help people that actually struggle with disabilities, like, to let them know that you’re not alone, and there’s many people just like you that struggle with the same things day to day,” Montgomery said. “I wanted to leave an impact.”

In her personal care attendant class, she has learned skills like how to help people get out of a wheelchair and about the support network available to people with disabilities. She also has been assisting older people by volunteering with AGE of Central Texas.

E4 students also live on campus and get help from program staff to live independently and participate in the community, said Joe Tate, E4’s program manager. At the end, students receive certificates of completion and can go on to get specific job certifications, but they do not get college credits. E4 students are not eligible for federal financial aid. But students with disabilities may qualify for financial help from the Texas Workforce Commission to pay for the program, Tate said.

E4 accepts 10 to 15 students every summer. The program costs $8,000 per semester. That does not include housing.

Other job training programs open to students with disabilities in the state include:

• The PATHS Certificate Program at Texas A&M University, which prepares students to get jobs supporting people with disabilities or working with children. It lasts two years, and up to 15 students will be accepted per year beginning this year. Updated program costs are still being determined, according to program staff.
• HOPS, a two-semester program at Texas A&M University, in which students earn credentials for jobs in greenhouse nursery, landscape management or floral design. The program admits up to 25 students. It also requires a six-week summer program at Texas A&M for adults with a disability. The prerequisite program costs about $13,776.50, including housing and food. Tuition for each semester of the program costs about $10,000 but does not include housing or food costs.
• The STEPS program at Austin Community College, in which students with disabilities can prepare to work or continue to study. The program takes two years on average and offers pathways to additional ACC courses to work in jobs such as administrative assistant, teaching assistant and office medical support. The program accepts 30 students and typically costs $1,790 per semester.

Comprehensive transition programs

Comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs, known as CTPs, are for students with intellectual disabilities. Students in these programs spend at least half of their time taking classes or participating in internships or work-based training with people without disabilities. This designation also allows students to receive federal financial aid. Learn more about CTP requirements here.

There are four CTP programs in Texas, at Texas A&M University, Houston Community College, Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of North Texas. The programs vary in length and cost, ranging from 18 months to four years and $1,036 per semester to over $30,000 per year.

These programs are also meant to prepare students for jobs, but they usually offer a broader, structured curriculum for work and life skills, rather than focusing on a specific career or field of study. Many also cater learning opportunities, such as courses or internships, to students’ individual interests.

In Texas, the programs usually do not lead to degrees, but students are given certificates of completion by the university or college.

Texas A&M’s program, Aggie ACHIEVE, is open to students who are 18 to 27 years old and have a documented intellectual disability or autism. The program lasts up to four years.

Students in the interdisciplinary program can take select noncredit courses, take physical education courses and participate in student life at A&M. The students have access to graduate assistants who help them navigate classes and live on their own.

Initially, students live on campus. They get residential mentors who spend five to nine hours a week with them during freshman year, said Heather Dulas, the program director. As juniors, the students move off campus and can live on their own or have roommates. When they finish, students receive certificates from the university. The program is approved by the U.S. Department of Education, but students do not get college credit for most of their courses.

Gault, the student who fell in love with A&M after a football game, has learned how to navigate her schedule and chores, like doing her laundry, through Aggie ACHIEVE. Now she works at a small-animal hospital and wants to become a veterinary assistant, she said.

“It’s amazing, so much fun,” she said. “You will get used to the campus, and they will help you, like, find classes. They help us with homework and stuff that we have trouble with.”

Christian Anguiano, a 23-year-old from San Antonio in Aggie ACHIEVE, has interned as a research assistant for an entomology professor, looking at how insect farming could create a sustainable food supply. He also traveled to Washington, D.C., to present his research. He wants to be a pharmacist technician but said going to college has been important for him.

“You get an amount of experience in things you want to do for your career,” he said.

The programs at Texas A&M and UNT cost over $30,000 per year, including the required on-campus housing for the first two years.

UNT’s program, ELEVAR, admits 10 to 12 students every year and is four years long. Students take UNT courses (not for credit) and participate in paid internships based on their interests. They also take other classes designed to meet their needs in areas like career planning, financial literacy, and health and wellness.

Texas generally does not provide state financial aid for college to non-degree-seeking students, so the programs rely on tuition and additional program fees to operate and offer students additional support, said Brenda Barrio, the UNT ELEVAR faculty lead and an associate professor of special education.

Students can apply for federal grants and work-study jobs through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. UNT ELEVAR has also used donations to create scholarships for some students, and most students in UNT’s program now get some financial help from the Texas Workforce Commission, Barrio said.

The Houston Community College’s VAST Academy has three campuses that can serve up to 55 students and a smaller online cohort, said Sue Moraska, the director of the program. Tuition for the two-year program costs $1,036 per semester, she said, and some students have gotten financial support from the Texas Workforce Commission. The classes focus on skills such as communication, work etiquette, budgeting and being comfortable using computers, Moraska said.

Texas A&M-San Antonio’s TU CASA program lasts 18 months and costs about $2,019 per semester, according to the program’s website. The program addresses academic, work and life skills and accepts applications from students in San Antonio, Bexar County and adjacent areas, according to the website.

There are other programs that are not CTPs that also allow students with disabilities to take or audit courses at public or private colleges. For example, the LifePATH program at Lone Star College offers options for students with disabilities to get an associate’s degree (eligible for financial aid), complete a foundational skills certificate (not for credit) or receive additional support while taking other traditional college classes for credit.

Scholarships, tuition waivers or other funding may also be available to help students cover costs for a program or college classes.

Learn more about CTPs and other programs for students with disabilities through Think College and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

How to find the best fit

These job training and college programs offer additional accommodations, but they are still competitive and require diligence from students, according to program leaders. Programs at universities or colleges may require application processing fees. Most application fees range from $15-$50. The HOPS, STEPS and VAST Academy programs do not require application fees.

Students with disabilities applying to the programs should be fairly independent and interested in the learning opportunities.

“You have to be able to take care of your medical needs, dietary needs, safe-navigating from place to place,” said Dulas, the Aggie ACHIEVE program director. “If you wouldn’t be able to spend a weekend or a week alone in your own home, you may not be ready yet to be on a college campus.”

If a student is not yet at that level of independence or is not admitted the first time they apply to a program, students and their families can reapply or look at other programs they may qualify for.

“It doesn’t mean never,” Dulas said. “It means maybe give your student a little bit of room to grow and build some skills and some more self-confidence and then come in.”

When exploring options, students and families should consider whether a program aligns with the student’s goals and needs, including whether a program offers residential support for students to live independently.

Programs can also serve as stepping stones to other opportunities, said Moraska, the director of the VAST Academy in Houston. She said 10% to 15% of the program’s students every year have gone on to get certificates or associate degrees.

“Once they start in a program, they have that opportunity to go to college, and they’re successful,” she said. “They become more self-determined, and they want to go on and do more.”

Programs like Aggie ACHIEVE and UNT ELEVAR are new, so data on students’ employment outcomes after graduation is not yet available. At UNT, all 10 students in the program in the spring were working paid internships, said Barrio, the program’s faculty lead. A few students also left the program.

From 2018 to Dec. 6, 2022, 45.5% of students with disabilities who went through job training programs with financial support from the Texas Workforce Commission had gotten jobs in line with their individualized employment plans, according to the commission.

Students who have completed PATHS or E4 also say the programs taught them independence and self-advocacy in addition to job skills.

“It opened the doors for me to go to college and graduate from A&M, and then now I’m able to work for a similar program,” said Shelbi Davenport, who has a physical disability due to a rare genetic disorder that can cause trouble walking and with coordination. She completed the PATHS program in 2015 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies in 2020. She now works for the HOPS program at A&M.

If you want to learn more about a program and how to pay for it, contact program staff or your local Vocational Rehabilitation Office for job training programs.

Other resources

Think College lists more of the programs available for people with intellectual disabilities and has more resources for students and families, including plain-language guides on choosing a program and getting financial aid.

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities are part of the federally established support network for people with disabilities. They conduct research and share resources, including help getting assistive technology. There are two of these centers in Texas: the Texas Center for Disability Studies at UT-Austin and the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M.

Other organizations that provide support in this area include:

• Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
• National Center for College Students with Disabilities.
• The Council for Exceptional Children.
• The Arc.

This reporting was supported by the Higher Ed Media Fellowship, which is run by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and funded by the ECMC Foundation.

Disclosure: Houston Community College, Texas A&M University, the University of North Texas, Lone Star College and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-career-training-disabilities/.

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