A new 麻豆原创 program to provide an immersive college experience for students with intellectual disabilities is gearing up to start this fall, and the聽first public information session will be held on campus Thursday, April 16.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for聽community partners and family advocates of potential students to meet with university administrators, faculty and staff to discuss the first program of its kind in Central Florida.
The information meeting will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the 麻豆原创 Live Oak Event Center, 4115 Pyxis Lane. For a map and directions, go to Live Oak location page.
鈥溌槎乖� is committed to educational experiences,鈥� said Adam Meyer, director of Student Accessibility Services and chair of a new education committee. 鈥淲e believe there is an opportunity in Central Florida to develop an immersive academic, professional and campus experience for students with intellectual disabilities who cannot otherwise traditionally access college opportunities.鈥�
Some other colleges offer similar programs, he said, 鈥渂ut our goal is to develop new ways to present a campus opportunity to students with intellectual disabilities. We want to be a model program with emerging, progressive practices.鈥�
Earlier this year, the education committee began working on the program so students could register for college courses, live in university housing, immerse themselves in college life through student organizations and other social activities, and prepare toward independent futures and vocational opportunities. The pilot, a part of the Division of , will start on the main campus and is expected to eventually become a key component of .
The project is being designed to meet the personal objectives for each individual based on his or her needs and goals, and mentoring will be a key element to ensure student success and engagement on campus.
A search is underway to hire a program director, and has been set up to share information about program goals, the application process, housing, tuition costs and other topics.
The university will start accepting applications on April 17. Five students will be accepted for the pilot program鈥檚 first semester; the enrollment will increase in subsequent years.
鈥淎s 麻豆原创 continues to design its downtown campus, the ultimate vision is to have 30 to 40 total students with a vibrant, immersive presence at the current campus and the eventual downtown campus,鈥� Meyer said. 鈥淲e will build an exceptional-education academic degree program, faculty research and statewide collaboration with other Florida intellectual-disability programs on post-secondary campuses. There is much opportunity for creativity and transformational development.鈥�
For additional information about the program, Meyer can be reached at聽ies@ucf.edu.