PASS Case Study 
 
Sharon is 19, a student in school, due to graduate this spring. She is 
excited about the possibility of going to college and eventually being 
on her own. Sharon has cerebral palsy, uses a motorized wheelchair, and 
has use of her arms and hands but has very little strength in them, so 
needs assistance to transfer, to finish dressing, etc. She is a good 
student and is very motivated to keep learning. 
 
Sharon's goal is to become an elementary school teacher, and she wants 
to attend Peabody Teachers' College, a private school about 30 miles 
from her home. She has an open VR file, and they have agreed to pay 
about half of the cost of tuition and books ($2,700/semester; 
equivalent to a state university), but she must apply for grants first. 
 
Sharon would like to live on campus, and she would like to get a van 
and adapt it for her own use. She took a driver's evaluation, and they 
report that she is a good candidate for driver's education class. She 
has priced a van and it would cost nearly $20,000. VR is open to 
considering paying for modifications, if she has the van. 
 
Sharon currently lives with her retired parents, and she receives $66 
(VTR) SSI and $345 Title II. She has saved no money, and her parents 
are not in a position to help her very much with costs of college. 
 
Directions: Divide into groups of 4-5. Select a group facilitator and 
reporter. Read through the case study and answer the following 
questions together. Report out as requested. 
 
1. List three factors that might make Sharon a likely candidate for a 
PASS. 
2. Given Sharon's vocational goal, list some possible milestones to 
accomplish it. 
3. Brainstorm a possible list of monetary resources for each expense 
associated with reaching the goal (as best you can anticipate them). 
4. What might be some decisions that Sharon would need to make if she 
pursues using a PASS as a major funding source for accomplishing her 
goal?