SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler is championing a measure to highlight future career opportunities for children with disabilities.

“In many situations, children with disabilities and their families feel as if there aren’t a lot of options for work after graduation,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “We must provide equal opportunities for all students to lead them on the path toward a bright future.”

Under House Bill 3224, students with individualized education plans – or IEPs – and their parents would be provided information on the school district’s career and technical education and dual credit opportunities.

“All students – regardless of a diagnosis – deserve career advancement opportunities,” said Koehler (D- Peoria). “This measure gives our students and their parents a clear understanding of the variety of opportunities that are available to them.”

According to the National School Boards Association 2019 analysis, students with disabilities who were in career and technical educational programs had an 89 percent graduation rate nationwide during the previous school year, which was 20 percent higher than the disabled student graduation rate overall.

House Bill 3224 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.