It’s hard to describe what it’s like to come into work every day faced with the challenge of starting something from scratch. Yes, there are other post-secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities, and I am so grateful to have them as a point of reference. However, as the setting for a program like ours, UCLA presents a whole different set of strengths and challenges. It can often be a daunting task knowing where to begin the planning process.
On my first day as program manager for Pathway at UCLA Extension, I met with the executive director, Eric Latham, to talk about his vision for the program and what needed to be done to get things started. Eric had spent nearly half a year conceptualizing the program, and it was overwhelming for me to process all his ideas while also trying to structure my new role. There was so much to juggle: parents who had invested money several years prior, wanting results; a university that had hired staff and wanted to see progress; and the self-imposed pressure of making sure we planned everything “just right.” My head spun!
I’m a “things to do” list kind of gal, and was having trouble prioritizing where to get started. One thing was clear, though: if I was going to be successful at managing a two-year program, I needed a few practice attempts to get things right. In an effort to get some experience with the ins and outs of creating a class, Eric and I decided to pilot our first class, Skills for Academic Success. We determined that the class would focus on academic and social skills supports needed to transition from high school to college. Once we had the overall concept of the course designed, I knew a longtime friend, Jason Lupei, would be the perfect instructor for the course. He sensed my enthusiasm and was eager to participate in Pathway. Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our department, and his energy is contagious. The class and our curriculum continue to grow due to his vision.
What was important to me was finding a place to get started. I was fortunate that a single phone call to Jason helped shape the direction of the program and gave me that starting point. While the whole blog concept is new to me, I’m hoping that others who are considering starting postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities will read this and be encouraged to move forward. My advice to that intended audience comes straight off my tennis shoe box: “just do it!” Rather than fear whether your program will “get it right,” go in with the best of intentions, find the people you know who have passion, vision, and enthusiasm and see what transpires.
No matter how much time you invest in creating a unique, well-conceived program design, your first students will arrive with all of their own strengths, interests, needs, motivations, etc., and you’ll have to reinvent several aspects of your design, anyway! You’ll find things you missed along the way, add supports for a particular student’s needs. One thing is constant in this world of managing a new postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities: change. It makes for work that is thrilling, continually challenging, and that pushes you to never get too comfortable with status quo. It requires that you do whatever you can to create a college opportunity that has structure, meaning and long-term impact for a group of students whose time has come.
June 12 marks my first anniversary with Pathway. I originally read the job description for this role and told my friends and family that I had found my “dream job.” The gift that comes with starting something new is that I have no one else’s mess to clean up after. That freedom allows me to help create this program in a way that embraces my strengths, and makes me feel more effective in the work I am getting done. It’s offered professional and personal development the likes of which I’ve never experienced. I wish you all the same privilege, and I wish you would get started!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Perspective
Last week we completed our admissions process by accepting our first group of students. This is a very exciting time for all of us associated with Pathway. The last couple of months have been a scramble brimming with hyperactivity; reviewing applications, interviewing students and parents, and the best part—making the acceptance calls to some very excited students. It is easy to get so involved in the day-to-day that I forget about the bigger picture. That changed last week when I got a call as I was driving home that put the last couple of months into perspective.
Stuck in traffic at the 210/605 interchange; the call came from the mom of a young son with Down syndrome. She was on her way to a support group that she regularly attends, and asked me if I would be willing to talk to a future meeting of the group.
“Absolutely,” I said. “I am always eager to talk about Pathway, and especially like talking to parents of young children.” It is great to see folks thinking ahead to a world of possibility for their kids rather than limitations. Making those possibilities reality takes planning and in the case of higher education, it takes money too. It is never too early to plan and save.
I am also very excited about the future of postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities. I look forward to these future high school graduates assuming that college is an option. I also look forward to them having a wide range of options from community college, to vocational school, to private and public colleges and universities.
We chatted for a few minutes, as the traffic crawled along, about what is going on with Pathway; she asked some questions and we exchanged information. Not very different from hundreds of other conversations I have had over the last 18 months.
As I hung up though, I realized that these upcoming presentations would be the first since accepting our first students. No longer would I be talking about Pathway students in the abstract. I would be talking about real people. Young people and their families that I have met and talked with; people who I will come to know very well over the next two years.
These folks bring with them a completely new set of issues and concerns, skills and abilities, experiences and quirks that I have not considered. These real people are likely to crash right into my abstractions.
Wow! I felt a burn in my chest – a familiar one that has kept me awake many a night the last couple of weeks. This is really happening. Now instead of the elusive generic student I will be talking about real live people. The pressure is on.
But what a glorious pressure. I know that Pathway is going to have a positive impact for our students. Some will get more out of the experience than others to be sure, but isn’t it wonderful that this is now a reality for these students and just few short years ago they would not have had this opportunity.
So from here on out things will be different. There is a convergence of the big picture with the small. The stress of preparation will be replaced with the excitement of sharing the accomplishments of students. I’m looking forward to it.
Stuck in traffic at the 210/605 interchange; the call came from the mom of a young son with Down syndrome. She was on her way to a support group that she regularly attends, and asked me if I would be willing to talk to a future meeting of the group.
“Absolutely,” I said. “I am always eager to talk about Pathway, and especially like talking to parents of young children.” It is great to see folks thinking ahead to a world of possibility for their kids rather than limitations. Making those possibilities reality takes planning and in the case of higher education, it takes money too. It is never too early to plan and save.
I am also very excited about the future of postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities. I look forward to these future high school graduates assuming that college is an option. I also look forward to them having a wide range of options from community college, to vocational school, to private and public colleges and universities.
We chatted for a few minutes, as the traffic crawled along, about what is going on with Pathway; she asked some questions and we exchanged information. Not very different from hundreds of other conversations I have had over the last 18 months.
As I hung up though, I realized that these upcoming presentations would be the first since accepting our first students. No longer would I be talking about Pathway students in the abstract. I would be talking about real people. Young people and their families that I have met and talked with; people who I will come to know very well over the next two years.
These folks bring with them a completely new set of issues and concerns, skills and abilities, experiences and quirks that I have not considered. These real people are likely to crash right into my abstractions.
Wow! I felt a burn in my chest – a familiar one that has kept me awake many a night the last couple of weeks. This is really happening. Now instead of the elusive generic student I will be talking about real live people. The pressure is on.
But what a glorious pressure. I know that Pathway is going to have a positive impact for our students. Some will get more out of the experience than others to be sure, but isn’t it wonderful that this is now a reality for these students and just few short years ago they would not have had this opportunity.
So from here on out things will be different. There is a convergence of the big picture with the small. The stress of preparation will be replaced with the excitement of sharing the accomplishments of students. I’m looking forward to it.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Why Not College?
For many of us going away to college marks a significant transition in our lives. We go to college or university for a wide variety of reasons – to develop skills towards a specific career, gain knowledge as we identify a life path, build networks, make friends, learn about other people and cultures, prepare ourselves for life, and of course to earn a degree leading to a career and higher earnings. People with the label of developmental or intellectual disability however, are generally excluded from participating in this kind of college experience. Among the many reasons are low expectations, inadequate preparation, and discrimination. Postsecondary education is too lofty a goal, people with intellectual disabilities should go to work (if they are lucky); university is not a place for them.
There are so many assumptions in that statement – higher education is unrealistic, it is too hard and we are setting folks up to fail, and possibly the most painful it is a waste of time and money. One of the things that I think hangs us up is the emphasis on earning a degree, while that is certainly important, there are many other aspects of the college experience that are beneficial.
Thinking back to my college experience, I don’t know that I could tell you much about the courses I took, but I certainly remember people and experiences. Most importantly, it was while working in the student union cafeteria alongside some students with disabilities that led me to my current career. My college experience, and I know I am not alone in this, was a time to learn about myself, make and learn from my mistakes, and have experiences that will be with me for the rest of my life. Why shouldn’t someone with an intellectual disability be able to have the same experience?
We already see the emergence of postsecondary education opportunities for folks with intellectual disabilities and I believe that in the coming years we will see tremendous growth. There is a pent-up demand, and young people and their families that are exiting the K-12 special education system have higher expectations beyond what the adult service system currently offers. They will not be denied any longer, and they have proven to be a formidable force in advocating for inclusion. Higher education is the next frontier.
This blog is multi-purposeful. Primarily, this blog is about the creation of Pathway at UCLA Extension. On many occasions those of us involved in this project have remarked that there are so few examples that we have to just move ahead. Or as my daughter’s kindergarten teacher used to tell her when she would get stuck – “just make your best guess and go!” This is not to say that we have skimped on the planning that has gone into Pathway. It has been nearly 10 years since a dedicated group of families approached UCLA pleading for a program like Pathway. The time has come for doing. Now that we are at the point of welcoming our first cohort of students we want to have a place to document the process of creating Pathway.
I realize that while there are not many examples to draw upon for creating something like Pathway, we have heavily relied on the assistance of many friends and interested parties. More folks than can be thanked here offered their guidance, suggestions, shared paperwork and processes, or just offered a kind word of support. So a second purpose is to give back by sharing our experiences. We hope to share some of the issues that we have dealt with and those to come.
Finally, this blog has the potential to act as a forum of sorts to discuss the nuts and bolts of how we increase the number of postsecondary education options for folks with intellectual disabilities. There are many philosophical issues related to this subject and there are just as many places to discuss those issues. While debating these issues is important, sometimes focusing on them too much leads to inaction - trying to please everybody or waiting for the perfect opportunity. There are folks out there wanting a chance to continue their education, to learn about the world, to learn about themselves, and take a step toward the freedom that making your own way brings. So let’s talk, but let’s talk while we do.
If you would like to contribute to this blog please contact Eric.
There are so many assumptions in that statement – higher education is unrealistic, it is too hard and we are setting folks up to fail, and possibly the most painful it is a waste of time and money. One of the things that I think hangs us up is the emphasis on earning a degree, while that is certainly important, there are many other aspects of the college experience that are beneficial.
Thinking back to my college experience, I don’t know that I could tell you much about the courses I took, but I certainly remember people and experiences. Most importantly, it was while working in the student union cafeteria alongside some students with disabilities that led me to my current career. My college experience, and I know I am not alone in this, was a time to learn about myself, make and learn from my mistakes, and have experiences that will be with me for the rest of my life. Why shouldn’t someone with an intellectual disability be able to have the same experience?
We already see the emergence of postsecondary education opportunities for folks with intellectual disabilities and I believe that in the coming years we will see tremendous growth. There is a pent-up demand, and young people and their families that are exiting the K-12 special education system have higher expectations beyond what the adult service system currently offers. They will not be denied any longer, and they have proven to be a formidable force in advocating for inclusion. Higher education is the next frontier.
This blog is multi-purposeful. Primarily, this blog is about the creation of Pathway at UCLA Extension. On many occasions those of us involved in this project have remarked that there are so few examples that we have to just move ahead. Or as my daughter’s kindergarten teacher used to tell her when she would get stuck – “just make your best guess and go!” This is not to say that we have skimped on the planning that has gone into Pathway. It has been nearly 10 years since a dedicated group of families approached UCLA pleading for a program like Pathway. The time has come for doing. Now that we are at the point of welcoming our first cohort of students we want to have a place to document the process of creating Pathway.
I realize that while there are not many examples to draw upon for creating something like Pathway, we have heavily relied on the assistance of many friends and interested parties. More folks than can be thanked here offered their guidance, suggestions, shared paperwork and processes, or just offered a kind word of support. So a second purpose is to give back by sharing our experiences. We hope to share some of the issues that we have dealt with and those to come.
Finally, this blog has the potential to act as a forum of sorts to discuss the nuts and bolts of how we increase the number of postsecondary education options for folks with intellectual disabilities. There are many philosophical issues related to this subject and there are just as many places to discuss those issues. While debating these issues is important, sometimes focusing on them too much leads to inaction - trying to please everybody or waiting for the perfect opportunity. There are folks out there wanting a chance to continue their education, to learn about the world, to learn about themselves, and take a step toward the freedom that making your own way brings. So let’s talk, but let’s talk while we do.
If you would like to contribute to this blog please contact Eric.
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