Amendment #692 to H4000

Higher Education for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Representatives Sannicandro of Ashland, Khan of Newton, Ferguson of Holden, Kaufman of Lexington, Toomey of Cambridge, Garballey of Arlington, Gregoire of Marlborough, Benson of Lunenburg, Walsh of Framingham, Madden of Nantucket, Keenan of Salem, Decker of Cambridge, Garlick of Needham, D'Emilia of Bridgewater, Livingstone of Boston, Provost of Somerville, Markey of Dartmouth, Haddad of Somerset, Mark of Peru, Donato of Medford and Galvin of Canton move to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

“SECTION XXXX. Chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following section:-

Section 30A. (a) Public institutions of higher education shall offer inclusive opportunities to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders who are seeking to continue academic, career and technical, and independent living instruction in order to prepare for gainful employment. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders shall not be required to take any standardized college entrance aptitude test, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, or obtain a passing score on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment in order to gain admission and enrollment in credit-bearing and non-credit courses that include students without disabilities, including enrollment in credit-bearing courses in audit status for students who may not meet course pre-requisites and requirements, and participate in internships or work-based training in settings with non-disabled students. Students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders shall be socially and academically integrated with non-disabled students to the maximum extent possible, with provision of individual supports and services to support inclusion in academic courses, extracurricular activities and other aspects of the institution of higher education’s regular postsecondary program.

SECTION XXXX. Said Chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 39 the following section:-

Section 39A. Students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders enrolled in public secondary schools shall be allowed to enroll in credit and noncredit courses in public higher education institutions in the commonwealth that include non-disabled students, including enrollment in credit-bearing courses in audit status for students who may not meet course pre-requisites or requirements, with necessary supports, services, and accommodations provided by the student’s school committee, to facilitate the student’s enrollment and to support inclusion in academic courses, extracurricular activities, internships, work experiences, and other aspects of the institution of higher education’s regular postsecondary program and provide a free and appropriate public education.”