I’ve written in the past about how important inclusive education programs are for both children with disabilities and children without disabilities. However, until recently, these programs have been reserved mostly for the elementary, middle and high school levels of education. Some colleges and universities have allowed those with disabilities to attend classes, as long as they weren’t a distraction or a disruption to the rest of the class. However, the College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina recently created the program REACH.
REACH stands for Realizing Educational and Career Hopes. Students enrolled in the program are able to live on campus, attend two mainstream classes a semester and learn life skills as well. The students are taught how to care for themselves. They are able to cook and clean and overall be more independent. In addition, the college works with businesses to educate business owners on the skills these students have to offer, and to open up job opportunities to students. Those who go through REACH are twice as likely to find employment and therefore, make more money. If people with disabilities are able to get a job and provide for themselves, it will mean less of them will need government assistance.
Just like with inclusive education in the grade school setting, including students with disabilities on the college campus, provides benefits for the average student as well. Students without disabilities learn about inclusion. They learn that those with disabilities have a lot to offer to their communities. Friendships between the two groups can blossom and those with disabilities can enjoy everything that college life has to offer from the student union to the theater program.
The only setback is that students with intellectual disabilities haven’t been eligible for federal loans for education although changes have been made thanks to Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Families who can’t afford to send their child to college are turning to fundraising in order to make it happen.