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.
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.
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.