University of Cincinnati
11/03/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/03/2025 10:50
IDD Education Center expands STEM opportunities for students with disabilities
IDD Education Center expands STEM opportunities for students with disabilities
STEM education through innovative pre-apprenticeships and industry partnerships
By Nikki Murray Email NikkiEmail Nikki
3 minute read November 3, 2025 Share on facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print StoryLike
Ohio is facing significant workforce gaps-especially in fast-growing STEM fields. Yet individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have historically been excluded from efforts to fill these roles. The University of Cincinnati's IDD Education Center is changing that narrative by creating innovative, hands-on pathways that help students with disabilities build marketable skills and contribute to Ohio's economy.
Left to Right: Assistant Director of Employment Services, Cadi Dart, student, Jack Wojno, Jack's parents Jill and John Wojno. Photo/Marketing Coordinator of IDD Education Center, Nikki Murray
With support from the Ohio Deans Compact incentive grants, the IDD Education Center has launched engineering pre-apprenticeships and other groundbreaking programs that make STEM learning accessible to all. These grants provide critical development dollars, allowing the team to design adaptive curriculum, take risks, and open doors that were previously closed to students with IDD. Partnerships with industry leaders such as Siemens and Procter & Gamble further strengthen the program by offering real-world tools and environments that prepare participants for meaningful careers.
The results are inspiring. Students gain independence, discover new passions, and develop practical skills-from designing engineering models to collaborating on projects with UC peers. Families report remarkable growth in confidence and motivation, while UC students benefit from the opportunity to innovate and learn alongside their peers with disabilities.
Left to Right: Assistant Director of Employment Services, Cadi Dart, previous STEM student, Travis Horner and parent, Caitlin Ottesen. Photo/Marketing Coordinator of IDD Education Center, Nikki Murray
This work demonstrates what's possible when higher education, industry, and statewide initiatives collaborate to meet students where they are. By investing in inclusive STEM education, Ohio is not only helping young people reach their full potential-it is also building a stronger, more diverse workforce for the future.
Watch this short video to discover how the University of Cincinnati's IDD Center is creating STEM career pathways and work-based learning opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities-helping close workforce gaps and connect students to high-skill jobs.
Source: Ohio Deans Compact, The Connector newsletter
Featured image at top: STEM Student working on 3D Printing in CEES STEM Access for All Photo: Assistant Director of Employment Services, Cadi Dart
IDD Education Center
UC's IDD Education Center's mission is to create meaningful, life-changing experiences for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through innovative research, education and service. Nested in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and IT (CECH), the IDD Education Center provides programs for teens and adults to further their education, independence, and life skills. Program participants reach their potential and find their purpose in a community that accepts and supports them to be the best they can be. The IDD Education Center embraces the University's strategic direction of Next Lives Here, breaking boundaries and providing opportunities for employment, social connections, and life-long learning.
We believe every individual possesses unique power, potential, and purpose.
Learn more about the center's programs.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Tags
- Next Lives Here
- College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services
Related Stories
1
WVXU: Adjusting to work in today's high-tech age of automation
January 29, 2020
2
UC receives nearly $1M for cybersecurity research
February 11, 2020
3
UC, Akron Schools partner to bridge IT skills gap
February 21, 2020
UC, Akron Public Schools and Stark State sign partnership to create Early IT program that allows high school students to begin earning college credits while in high school
University of Cincinnati published this content on November 03, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 03, 2025 at 16:50 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]