Many post-secondary education programs foster self-sufficiency, intellectual growth, and employment skills for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, these programs do not usually introduce adults with IDD to the broad range of academic subjects that their neurotypical peers take in college. Thus, we developed a reverse-inclusion, continuing-education program at University of Texas at Austin aimed at adults with IDD. Students with and without IDD take courses together on campus in science, liberal arts, and self-sufficiency skills. We describe how we designed and implemented our program which serves >200 students annually. This can inform the development of similar programs in other locations.

“Lifelong Learning with Friends” provides diversity training to college students by having them learn science alongside adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Volunteers showed increased interest in IDD-focused research, social interaction, and advocacy.