For Prabhav, attending college has meant more than taking classes. It has meant being part of a campus community, developing skills for the workplace and gaining confidence in what his future can hold.

Growing up with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), Prabhav participated in special education programs from preschool through high school. His mother recalls that even in programs intended to be inclusive, there was often still separation between Prabhav and his peers without disabilities.

College offered something different.

Through the SPARTANS Occupational Career Life Studies (OCLS) Program at San José State University, Prabhav participates in an inclusive college experience alongside the broader student body. The two-year program combines academics, career preparation, internships and campus life, with individualized support based on each student’s strengths and goals. Learn more about OCLS at San José State University.

Turning Education Into Opportunity

Hope Services partners with San José State to help OCLS students turn their college experience into meaningful employment opportunities. For Prabhav, that has included a part-time position at the Hope Services front desk, where job coaches have helped him strengthen his communication, problem-solving and workplace skills.

The potential impact of inclusive higher education extends far beyond one student. According to Think College, 74% of graduates from federally funded inclusive postsecondary programs were employed one year after graduation—more than four times the typical employment rate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Despite those outcomes, access remains limited. Think College reports that only 3.2% of people with I/DD ages 18–25 are enrolled in a college or university.

Programs like OCLS demonstrate what can happen when universities create pathways for students who may not fit the traditional college admissions model. Students gain opportunities to learn, build relationships, prepare for employment and become more independent, while the broader campus community experiences inclusion as part of everyday college life.

Creating More Places to Belong

For Prabhav, the value of these opportunities comes down to something simple: giving people the chance to discover what they can do.

“Show them their talents. Believe in yourself.”

— Prabhav

His journey is a reminder that inclusive higher education is about more than access to a college campus. It is about creating a place to learn, make mistakes, build confidence and prepare for what comes next.

By supporting and expanding models like OCLS at universities across the country, more students with I/DD can have the opportunity Prabhav has had: to learn alongside their peers, develop their talents and build a future with greater independence and possibility.