Appendices - Background
For New York State, there is a huge opportunity to tap into the thousands of high school graduates with disabilities who will be qualified to undertake college-level study. In an era when competition for the best and brightest is particularly keen, New York State cannot afford to let those thousands slip away. The state must meet its obligation to open up educational horizons to all high school graduates statewide. There is no reason why New York cannot reach and exceed the national average percentages of students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education.
Whatever the investment, whatever changes in policy, law or attitude might be required, individuals with disabilities have long proved that they are vital contributors to our economy, communities and society. It is time for New York - schools, families of individuals with disabilities, students with disabilities themselves, not-for-profit organizations, colleges, universities and government - to begin the necessary work in order to reap the benefits of increased involvement of individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education.