ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

Students with intellectual disability aspire to—and deserve—access to the same life-changing opportunities in higher education as their peers. At the Warner School’s , faculty have been at the forefront of transforming that vision into a reality.

In 2023, the Center helped to launch the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC)—the first independent, nonprofit agency in the U.S. dedicated to accrediting college and university programs specifically designed for students with intellectual disability.

Developed in partnership with the National Coordinating Center (NCC) at Think College (UMass Boston), IHEAC promotes consistent, high-quality, standards-based programming that supports students in achieving their academic, social, and career goals. 

Why Accreditation Matters

Quality, inclusive postsecondary programs are essential to student success — especially for those who have been historically underserved by higher education. Accreditation provides:

• National recognition for programs that meet rigorous standards
• Guidance, consistency, and accountability for institutions developing inclusive postsecondary offerings
• Reassurance for families that their students will receive a meaningful, supported college experience
• Improved outcomes in persistence, graduation, and employment

With a growing number of colleges offering inclusive programs, IHEAC helps distinguish those programs that are truly prepared to effectively and successfully serve students.

Warner’s Leadership Role

The Center for Disability and Education’s leadership has been central to IHEAC’s development and national impact:

• Martha Mock, PhD, director of the Center for Disability and Education, chairs the NCC Accreditation Workgroup and serves as IHEAC’s founding director. 
• Mary Judge-Diegert, EdD, associate director of the Center, leads the critical site visit process that evaluates program readiness and effectiveness.

Together, they have created the program accreditation process that is now used to assess program quality — demonstrating how an initiative led from Rochester, New York, is improving access to quality education for students across the country.

Accredited Programs

IHEAC has already accredited pioneering programs, including:

• University of Colorado (Colorado Springs),
• Virginia Commonwealth University,
• Western Carolina University,

Additional programs are currently undergoing review and are expected to be accredited soon. 

Read more about this historic accomplishment in this