Creating Post-Secondary Education Opportunities for All
The following article is a feature article highlighting the expansion of Inclusive Post-Secondary Education opportunities in Georgia from the Summer 2013 Making a Difference magazine. Click here to read the entire magazine.
Creating Post-Secondary Education Opportunities for All
By Becca Bauer
With the close of the 2013 General Assembly, Georgia's disability advocates pushing for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) opportunities celebrated a victory as a portion of their requested funding to expand IPSE programs in the State was approved by the Senate. Due in large part to the support from Senator Butch Miller (R-Dist 49) and Senator Jack Hill (R-Dist 4), the Senate added $100,000 out of the $350,000 requested funds to the FY2014 budget for IPSE in Georgia.
Half of the funds will be given to the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth (AILSG) at Kennesaw State University (KSU), which is a two-year program that provides students with intellectual disabilities a college experience and was launched in 2009 with support from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). Currently, this is the only IPSE program in the State, and the additional funds will be used to make enhancements to the program. The other half of the funds will be put toward the development of a similar IPSE program at a university in South Georgia.
Sen. Miller became interested in this legislation after a visitation day at KSU. Although impressed with the program, the limited funding and spots available were obvious. "This became important to me not just as a parent but as a legislator too, because I am in support of making all state schools and programs inclusive to address the needs of our total population," he said.
To get this conversation started among his colleagues, Miller reached out to Sen. Hill, along with several other legislators to address the need for more IPSE opportunities across Georgia.
"I've heard from several of my constituents that I've known for years who have children with disabilities about the lack of post high school options," said Sen. Hill. "So, the fact that I was starting to hear about this situation from both my district and a fellow senator made this a top priority for me."
Together they reached out to the Cobb County Delegation under Sen. Judson Hill (R-Dist 32) for help, and every member on the Delegation was very supportive and signed a letter to the appropriations committee to move this issue forward.
Ultimately, getting this funding passed took a combination of efforts from many elected officials and advocacy organizations. All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) adopted the creation of post-secondary education options as one of their legislative priorities. GCDD and the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) will both play instrumental roles in
determining how the new IPSE programs will roll out.
Although advocates were hoping to get the requested funding fully approved, they still consider this a great success, especially during these tough financial circumstances. The push for more IPSE has been going on for several years by the Georgia Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Consortium (GAIPSEC) housed in the CLD at GSU, which was created through a mini grant from Think College!, a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding and improving research and practice in inclusive higher education for people with intellectual disabilities.
GAIPSEC is a gathering of Georgia educators, college/universities, families, self-advocates, providers and advocacy organizations dedicated to ensuring that every Georgia student has access to learning after high school, regardless of an intellectual or developmental disability, and it will play an instrumental role in developing the new IPSE programs.
"It's lonely having one program, and there is a great demand for more post-secondary education options," said Dr. Daniel Crimmins, director of the CLD at GSU. "KSU has done a great job, but just as you would never think one college could be the right one for every student, we want and expect new programs to develop their own personalities to meet the interests of all students who want to attend."
Currently, there are six schools from around the State that have expressed interest in starting their own IPSE program. The details on how to determine the location and structure are still being worked out, but it will be an open competition through a state required request for proposal process. The legislative funding specified that one new program should be in South Georgia, but Crimmins believes that there may be enough money available to provide start up funding for two or three programs statewide. The new program will be similar to KSU's AILSG and should be inclusive in that students with disabilities have access to the same classes and events as others, it offers academics focusing on real content and it provides a pathway to employment among other things.
"There are still several details to work out, but we are hopeful that the chosen university will begin developing its program by the fall and be ready to operate by the 2014 academic year," said GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson.
And as for the future, "We want as many IPSE programs as there are universities in Georgia," says Jacobson. "I think realistically we can expect to have five to 10 universities begin offering opportunities for students with developmental disabilities over the next few years."
With only one IPSE program in Georgia out of more than 100 colleges and universities, the time is now to make expansions in IPSE programs. In the surrounding southeastern states, Alabama and Tennessee each have two programs, South Carolina has six programs, North Carolina has eight and Florida has nine.
"We are just beginning to do the things our neighboring states have been doing for years," Miller says. "I think this legislation is an appropriate response for not only making
Georgia competitive in terms of the economy, but also helping our students become independent, plan for their futures and become contributors to their community."
Since launching with only three students, the KSU AILSG has grown to 19 students at the start of the 2013-14 academic year. With this new funding, KSU plans to build upon the efforts for those already in their program to be successful and transition into employment opportunities. Additionally, KSU would like to continue to grow its program in order to accommodate first-year and second-year students each year. By the 2017-18 academic year, they are hoping to have openings for a total of 48 students, more than double what they currently have for the upcoming year.
Experiencing college is often seen as a milestone of growing up, and AILSG focuses on giving students the opportunity to experience a typical college experience with all of the social activities and freedom to have a say in their future.
"What makes AILSG stand out from others across the country is the extent of inclusivity," says Executive Director Dr. Ibrahim Elsawy. "The students have access to the same campus activities and supports as typical students. They spend approximately 75% of their time participating in inclusive activities including KSU courses, workshops, student life events, work training and internships," Elsawy adds. "The majority of academy students live in the KSU dorms alongside typical students."
And if there are questions to whether Inclusive Post-Secondary Education opportunities are beneficial, the answer is clear: "Six students graduated in 2012, and today they are all employed," said Kari Cain, employment counselor. "The 2013 cohort graduated just a few weeks ago and already 50% of them are working and one is continuing his training on campus."
"This is about giving students an opportunity to experience what life has to offer and helping them look for sustainability over the long-term, and these types of programs could be very beneficial in the long run," says Sen. Hill.
"The funding received to make enhancements to KSU and create another program is a great step in the right direction, but we will need to continue pushing for more," declares Jacobson. "The Governor has been a great advocate so far, and we would like to continue working with him to gain more support for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education opportunities and make expansions into his budget recommendations."
It could be a long and tough road ahead, but every person with developmental disabilities should be able to have the option to experience what it means to be a college student and develop their passion and skills.
What Do AILSG Graduates Think?
"My parents attended college, so I felt like I should do the same," said Benjamin B. Lewis, a 2013 graduate from the AILSG program. "College is a privilege, and it's something that one shouldn't take for granted."
Like many other students, Lewis, who enjoyed exploring his interests with classes in fitness, health and sports, says some of his favorite memories from KSU were making new friends. "It was about being able to feel like a regular college kid," he adds.
After graduating in May, Lewis plans on continuing his education and getting certified as a massage therapist at the KSU College of Continuing and Professional Education, as well as pursuing his dream job and becoming certified to be a Crossfit coach one day.
"I think going to college helped connect me with places and people who might want to employ me. I am excited about my future and the opportunities I have."
