Universities and disability advocates urge state support to expand inclusive postsecondary programs

Representatives of Minot State University’s North Dakota Center for Persons With Disabilities and the Impact Consortium told the Appropriations, Education and Environment Division that inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs have strong employment and independence outcomes and that expanding those programs across the state merits legislative attention.

Laurie Garnes, executive director of the ND Center for Persons With Disabilities at Minot State, described ASTEP (Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment) and related IPSE programs. She said 89 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have enrolled in North Dakota IPSE programs since 2010, and that in a recent graduate survey 96% had paid, community‑integrated employment at minimum wage or higher in the past 12 months; 60% were living independently.

Garnes explained IPSE students take college courses alongside peers, participate in internships and campus life, and receive dedicated staff supports and peer mentors. She said current programs in North Dakota are sustained through braided funding — university support, federal TPSID grants, Department of Public Instruction transition funds where applicable, and student fees. Garnes said Minot State invests about $50,000 annually in its program from center resources tied to a federal core grant.

Tracy Olsen of the Impact Consortium said federal support has helped other campuses stand up programs; the Impact Consortium receives roughly $600,000 per year from the U.S. Department of Education to provide technical assistance and regional support. That grant and related match funds will end in September 2026, Garnes said, and several campuses that started programs (Bismarck State College and Dakota College at Bottineau) paused to prioritize other campus needs.

Committee members asked whether the group sought a specific appropriation. Garnes said the presenters were not asking for a specific dollar figure at the hearing but wanted the legislature to consider options for sustaining and expanding IPSE programs statewide, including modest appropriation support for dedicated staff and mentoring costs that campuses must add to succeed.

Kirsten Dvorak of the Arc of North Dakota, speaking as a parent of an ASTEP student, said families share program costs: she reported approximately $11,000 for one semester with room, board and program fees for a residential student, underscoring both family investment and program costs.

Garnes and Olsen asked the committee to consider how modest state support could leverage existing federal and campus resources to expand programs that the presenters argued produce strong employment and independence outcomes for participants.