'Unique Learners'
Related Stories
- Uneasiness In Uncharted Waters
- First-of-Their-Kind Graduates
- Quick Takes: House GOP Proposes Aid for Hurricane Victims, U. of New Orleans Starts Online Semester, Promoting Higher Ed for Students With Developmental Disabilities, Revamped GRE, Ig Nobels for Work on Slowly Dripping Tar and Replacement Dog Testicles
- Bachelor's for Autistic Students
- New Programs: Finance, Agriculture, Social Work
The "last bastion of prejudice in higher education," according to Cynthia Johnson, is the belief that developmentally disabled students don't have a place in colleges.
These students, many of whom would have been called mentally retarded in an earlier era, have a range of skills. And while a growing number of colleges have created a few programs or certificates for such students, Johnson is running a program that is moving to another level.
Johnson directs the Venture Program at Bellevue Community College, which offers a range of courses for developmentally disabled students. This fall, the program will offer an associate degree curriculum, which Johnson and other experts believe is the first college degree program for this group.
"This is a population that has been ignored. No one had thought of them having a college degree before. There is a desire by the students, but no one pushed the envelope to do this," Johnson says.
Steven M. Eidelman, executive director of the Arc, a national organization that works on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and their families, says the Bellevue program is significant because there is a growing population of students who could benefit. In the last 20 years, education programs have greatly expanded and improved for children with developmental disabilities, and more of those students are now ready for a college program, he said.
Eidelman doubts the Bellevue program would be appropriate for all people with developmental disabilities, who have a wide range of capacities. "It's great that this will be an option that will be appropriate for some people," he says. Community colleges are ideal homes for such programs, he says, "because they are really good at working with nontraditional students, and they have experience with literacy challenges and reaching out to people."
Donna Martinez, an Ed.D. student at George Washington University, is conducting research on the transitions faced by developmentally disabled people as they become adults. Martinez, who has a son who is developmentally disabled, says "one of the ultimate goals is for him to go to college."
Martinez says it is important for such programs not to be "some little classroom stuck in the back of a college," but to include interaction with the campus. She applauds Bellevue for having its program offer degrees. "It sends a wonderful message," she says. "There is a validation of presumed competence for these students."
The program at Bellevue features 52 separate courses and the Associate in Essential Studies degree will require 90 credits. The program combines academic courses, life skills and job training. Johnson says that a major goal of the program is to improve job options for graduates. So all courses will require students to demonstrate written and verbal communication skills as well as problem solving and critical thinking.
Whenever possible, students will also be placed in internships so they can learn about job possibilities while finishing their training.
To date, 40 students have been enrolled in the nondegree Venture Program, and Johnson expects that number to shoot up by 10-20 in the fall. Eventually the program, which will take most students three to four years to complete, is projected to have 100 students. "I've gotten several hundred letters and e-mails since we started talking about making this a degree program," Johnson says, adding that because Bellevue is not a residential college, students from outside Washington State may have a tough time with the logistics of enrolling.
"We hope other colleges will replicate this, and we're happy to share what we've done," she says.
Johnson acknowledges that some will question whether all of the instruction is "college level," but she says that such definitions aren't quite as precise as is commonly believed.
"College level is very subjective to every college," Johnson says. "For example, Biology 101 at Harvard is different from Biology 101 here. There is no real definition of college level. It is defined by the college, and I think our program will enhance this college."
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Past:
- 1 day
- 1 week
- 1 month
- 1 year
Similar Jobs
-
Adjunct, Spanish
Orlando, FLEmployed to teach in discipline or discipline areas in which he/she has specific training and/or competence. As such, is expected to plan, organize, and teach in a manner to promote and direct successful student learning in keeping with the College's learning-centered values and goals.
-
Assistant / Associate/ Full Professor
Gainesville, FLThe Department of Dermatology invites applications for a Mohs/General Dermatology surgeon to pursue a career in the Department Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. This is a full time 1.00 FTE, clinical track position.
-
Adjunct, Graphics Technology
Orlando, FLEmployed to teach in discipline or discipline areas in which he/she has specific training and/or competence. As such, is expected to plan, organize, and teach in a manner to promote and direct successful student learning in keeping with the College's learning-centered values and goals.
-
Adjunct, Digital Media
Orlando, FLEmployed to teach in discipline or discipline areas in which he/she has specific training and/or competence. As such, is expected to plan, organize, and teach in a manner to promote and direct successful student learning in keeping with the College's learning-centered values and goals.
-
Electronic Communications Manager
New York, NYReporting to the Director of Electronic Communications at Barnard College, Columbia University, the Electronic Communications Manager will work with the Electronic Communications team to provide web consultation, development, production, user support, training, and documentation to users of the w
-
Emerging Technologies Librarian - Albert S. Cook Library - LIB-N-2550
Towson, MDTowson University seeks a creative and dynamic Emerging Technologies Librarian who will be responsible for technology initiatives and web-based services for the Research and Instruction Department.
Featured Jobs
-
Online Writing Tutor
28NovWashington, DCSmarthinking, Inc. is hiring motivated individuals to serve as part-time online writing tutors. A Washington, D.C.-based education organization, Smarthinking, Inc. provides real-time, online tutoring and learning support to colleges, universities, high schools, and textbook publishers.
-
Director, Office of Research Integrity and Assurance
03FebPrinceton, NJPosition Summary: Princeton University seeks a highly motivated, well-qualified individual to serve as Director of the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (RIA), reporting to the Dean for Research.
-
Chair, Department of Technology Studies
03FebHays, KSThe chair of the department occupies a tenure track, full-time, unclassified position. The chair is the academic leader of the department and normally teaches on a half-time basis. The chair reports to the Dean of the College of Education and Technology.
-
Assistant/Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering SOE-12-3.
03FebByblos, LebanonThe Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering and Architecture (located in Byblos, Lebanon) invites applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in the field of Industrial Engineering effective February 2012 or October 2012. Candidates must have a Ph.D.
... -
Faculty Position in the School of Educational Studies
03FebClaremont, CAThe School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) invites nominations and applications for a tenure track faculty position at open rank in the subfield of Higher Education. The position will commence at the beginning of the 2012 academic year.
-
Assistant Professor of Psychology
02FebPittsburgh, PAChatham University, a thriving dynamic institution with three colleges and one school -- Chatham College for Women and the co-educational College for Graduate Studies, College for Continuing and Professional Studies, and School for Sustainability and the Environment -- is seeking candidates for a
...








