Teaching College Students with Intellectual Disability: Faculty Experiences with Inclusive Higher Education

Abstract

New opportunities for postsecondary education have emerged for young adults with intellectual disability. As a growing number of institutions establish inclusive higher education programs, it is important to understand the experiences of faculty who welcome students with intellectual disability into their courses. This qualitative study explored the views of 23 university professors who had recent experience teaching students with intellectual disability. Focus group interviews addressed the roles of faculty within inclusive classrooms, the strategies they found helpful, and the issues they found challenging. We offer recommendations for supporting faculty in this new endeavor and suggest areas for future research.