Bill > S672

This bill aims to expand higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities. It proposes changes to Chapter 15A of the General Laws, which governs higher education in Massachusetts, by explicitly including these students in the scope of educational opportunities and by removing certain barriers to their admission and participation. Specifically, the bill seeks to allow these students to enroll in credit-bearing and non-credit courses alongside students without disabilities, even if they don't meet traditional admission requirements like standardized tests or high school diplomas, and to participate in campus activities and internships. The bill also establishes a grant program to support partnerships between school committees and public institutions of higher education to offer inclusive concurrent enrollment programs for students aged 18-22 with severe disabilities, with the goal of improving academic achievement, employment, and independent living. Furthermore, it mandates tuition and fee waivers for these students, with the cost to be borne by the Commonwealth, and requires the development of guidelines and reporting mechanisms to ensure the successful implementation and expansion of these inclusive programs.