Project Description:
The Think College UNR 2013 Project will be a collaborative effort of UNR?s Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), the Washoe County School District (WCSD), the University of Nevada Reno, the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), and Sierra Regional Center (SRC).
The NCED will coordinate the activities of the project. Working with the WCSD Student Support Services, two students who are interested in attending college will be identified. These students will be students who have completed their high school course work, but are still be eligible for WCSD services. In addition, for the purposes of the pilot, students will have open cases at SRC. The intention is to have them dually enrolled in WCSD and UNR, and to be able to receive additional support from SRC and BVR. During the first semester of pilot operation, Think College UNR will have two students on campus. Two more students will be added per year until the program is established. Once established, a maximum of twenty (20) students will be enrolled in the program.
Admission is done in a variety of ways in postsecondary education (PSE) programs for students with IDD throughout the country. In an effort to offer maximum flexibility and still offer a non-credit certificate program, Think College Nevada will enroll students through the College of Extended Studies. This will offer maximum individuality for a diverse student population while not impacting the matriculating student numbers. One challenge to this method of admission is that social and recreational opportunities on campus are critical to this project?s success but are not usually included for students in the College of Extended Studies. Therefore, relationships will need to be developed between the NCED and other departments (Student Services, Campus Recreation & Wellness, etc.) to allow students in the Think College Nevada project to have maximum access to campus activities.
On-campus and classroom supports for each student will be individualized based on need and will come from the WCSD, from a service provider funded from SRC or Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), and/or from peer mentors. Peer mentors will be student interns from departments such as Public Health, Education, and Social Work. Prior to the beginning of classes, peer mentors will assist the Think College UNR students in navigating the campus. Transportation, including public transportation training, accessible transportation qualifying or driving to and from campus and employment sites will also be addressed during this two-year program since access to transportation is critical to maintaining successful employment. Coordinating supports and developing departmental relationships will be handled by NCED staff and a VISTA member from a new AmeriCorps*VISTA Path To Independence project, which is a collaboration of the NCED, the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada and Best Buddies of Nevada.
In order to achieve outcomes of employment and independence, the project will be structured into three areas: Academics & Campus Activities, Employment, and Independent Living.
Core Function(s):
Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services, Demonstration Services
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers
