Innovation Spotlight | Inclusive Post-secondary Education
by Lori Morphy, SARC Trainer/Resource Developer – Service Delivery, May 26, 2025
As people reach adulthood, many dream of continuing their education and starting a fulfilling career. While going to college or university may not have always been seen as a realistic goal for many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities; with the creation and advancement of inclusive post-secondary education programs, it is now a reality.
“The aim of Inclusive Post-secondary Education is not to normalize students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but to make their participation in post-secondary education the norm.” – (STEPS-Forward program, British Columbia)
Students in inclusive post-secondary education programs participate in regular classes alongside their student peers. Students choose their classes based on their interests and goals and are provided with a variety of supports to be successful. Each student completes projects and assignments, participates in labs, and writes exams where appropriate. They may also receive support in finding jobs and pursuing career opportunities using their education and expertise gained at college or university.
While not all students in these programs will achieve a full university degree, in many places they receive a certificate, and their achievement is celebrated alongside the other graduates at convocation or graduation ceremonies.
In Saskatchewan, the University of Regina offers a successful inclusive post-secondary education program called Campus for All. Learn more about some of the students who have taken studies through Campus for All here:
As you heard from these students and their families, they wanted to go to university just like their siblings and peers, and Campus For All gave them that opportunity. As Robbie’s siblings said,
“Robbie has definite things he wants to do or plans or goals. And we all went to university and I think that just for him, after high school, that’s what you do. He saw us all at university and he just wanted to go to university too. It just never crossed his mind that it was something he couldn’t do.”
One of the coordinators for the Campus For All program shared,
“When convocation happens, and our students cross the stage, and I see these young men and women that two decades ago we would never imagine convocated across that stage with a university certificate. And the pride they have, the pride their peers have, the pride the professors have, and the pride the audience has, I’m always affirmed that this is a program we need to continue and brings good things to our campus.”
Take a moment to hear from Lori Morphy about her experience as a university instructor with inclusive post-secondary education.
There are many universities, colleges, and polytechnic programs across Canada and elsewhere in the world that offer similar programs, for instance:
- Inclusion Alberta partners with more than 20 post-secondary institutions to offer more inclusive education opportunities than anywhere else in the world. Click here to learn more.
You can watch a great video about these programs in Alberta here:
- The STEPS-Forward program in British Columbia partners with eleven campuses to offer inclusive post-secondary opportunities:
- At Reimagine in California, their Lifelong Learning programs include two Reimagine campuses as well as partnership with local community colleges to support people with disabilities to pursue further education.
Do you support someone who has pursued inclusive post-secondary education, or who wants to?
We want to hear your stories! Contact SARC’s Communications Coordinator at ahoffart@sarcan.sk.ca
