Checkout this College Bound Article from the Pro-Parents Quarterly Newsletter

“Reach Out”:The Quarterly Newsletter of Parents Reaching Out To Parents of South Carolina, Inc.

College Bound

By Meghan Trowbridge
Director of Training and Community Development
Center for Disability Resources

For many people, the last year of high school is a year of great excitement-final exams, proms, “big man on campus” syndrome, and choosing college. Finally, students with intellectual disabilities will have this same stressful, overwhelming, and truly awesome experience! I spoke with a friend of mine who has Down Syndrome the other day and listened to her tell me that she is going to attend college and obtain her nursing degree, her teacher’s certification, and her social work degree. Talk about motivated! In previous years, I may have listened to her and thought that it is a shame that she has such amazing dreams that will never come true, but this time, I heard something different-something possible. While my friend may not actually get a nursing degree or a social work license, she may have the opportunity to go to the University of South Carolina or another college/university and take courses with students who don’t have labels; she may experience football games, parties, pep rallies, and lunch in the student union. For, as we all know, college is not just about academics!

For most families, planning for college is done in kindergarten. I remember a trip with my parents and I saw the University of Notre Dame’s Golden Dome from the interstate. In response to the question of a six year old of what’s the ‘big tin thing,” my father responded that the tin thing was where I would be going to college. Parents of children with disabilities are used to negotiating services and supports; used to advocating for their child; and used to attending IEP meetings, but they mat not be used to planning for their academic future of their child. It has been my experience, however, that parents of young children with disabilities have much higher expectations for their children and that this particular rite of passage is one that they want their kids to experience. I’m sure all of us can remember a time when the term “athlete” didn’t apply to people with disabilities, when “independence” was not a common term, or when “community” meant something different. This is evidence that change is constant. The time has come for young men and women with intellectual disabilities to pursue the college experience!

The National Down Syndrome Society and the College Transition Connection has developed a partnership to create a high-quality, inclusive model postsecondary program at a two or four year college or university in South Carolina. The goal of this partnership is to support the development of a program that will offer excellent postsecondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities in South Carolina. At present, a planning grant has been awarded to the University of South Carolina. The desired outcomes of the transition and postsecondary program are academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills and competitive or supported employment. Since the core values of this postsecondary education grant are inclusion, self-determination and person-centeredness, collaborative agreement with the Center for Disability Resources, South Carolina’s University Center for Excellence, began in September 2007. The goal of these partnerships is to pave the way for people with intellectual disabilities to forge ahead into the world of higher education and to begin to eradicate the some of the stereotypes of people with disabilities.

There are currently 120 post secondary education programs in the United States, offering a range of separate, mixed and inclusive opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities. Over the past ten years, there has been an increase the number of post secondary education opportunities for people with disabilities and these numbers are continuing to grow.

If you would like more information on this South Carolina initiative or other programs please visit the Think College website at www.thinkcollege.net or the College Transition Connection website at http://collegetransitionconnection.org.