Participating in post-secondary education programs, such as Comprehensive Transition Programs (CTPs), can help greatly improve outcomes for young adults with IDD. Those who participate in these programs are more than twice as likely to secure employment, and rely less on government programs and services. Currently, CTPs in Minnesota do not have enough capacity to educate the many transition-age youth who could benefit from these programs.
Expanding access to grants for Minnesota students with IDD to attend CTPs in border states will help them become better equipped to secure meaningful employment at competitive wages and live more independently – narrowing the school-to-services pipeline, reducing dependence on more formal, costly supports, and resulting in long-term cost savings.