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tag: Higher education in prison

Upcoming Event
April 10, 2026

Unlocking Access

ADA, Accessibility, and Assistive Technologies in Carceral Classrooms and Libraries

At the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison’s NCHEP Conference, Ithaka S+R’s Ess Pokornowski will join a panel to discuss accessibility and assistive technologies in carceral classrooms and libraries. Drawing from firsthand experience and research, panelists will share how accessible education and library services can transform prison environments, support rehabilitation, and foster lifelong learning. Attendees will leave with real-world examples, actionable strategies, and collaborative pathways that are grounded in recent studies, publications, and research to help make aspirational changes…
Past Event
February 21, 2026

Disability and Technology Access in Correctional Contexts

On February 21, Ithaka S+R’s Ess Pokornowski will give a presentation exploring accessibility, disabilities, and reasonable accommodations in higher education in prison contexts, at the 2026 Stop the Stigma event. The presentation will primarily adapt and summarize previous Ithaka S+R work on educational technology access and educational spaces and learning environments in prison. It will also outline promising developments and future areas for research and technical assistance related to disability services in higher education in prison settings. View the…
Research Report
June 5, 2021

Facilitating a Higher Education in Prison Research Infrastructure

Higher education in prison (HEP) is at a critical juncture. Just the past five years have seen the launch of the Second Chance Pell pilot program, a strong and growing cohort of college- and university-affiliated HEP programs, and sharpened national focus on the intersection of systemic racism, mass incarceration, and the pursuit of educational equity. As the compelling examples of individual and societal benefits from HEP have accumulated, they reinforced the decades-long campaign to restore Pell Grants for incarcerated students,…