Step Up Program
ME-The University of Maine, Center for Community Inclusion, UCEDD | |||
Program Type | UCEDD | Fiscal Year | 2020 |
Contact | Janet May, M.Ed., MS | ||
[email protected] | |||
Phone | 207-581-1383 | ||
Project Description | |||
Background The Step-Up Program was developed to provide a multi-week residential living and learning experience for DVR clients, who are high school juniors or seniors with an autism spectrum diagnosis, and who may have an interest in attending a postsecondary education program. Purpose The Summer 2019 Step Up Program is a collaborative project of the Maine Department of Labor - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR); and the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, the College of Education and Human Development, and Student Accessibility Services. Through the Step Up Program, students participated in: 10 educational seminars provided over the 5-week program covering topics including, obtaining accommodations in post-secondary education, self-determination & self-advocacy, financial literacy, scheduling & time management; 8-10 one hour tours of UM campus programs/facilities including the Foster Innovation Center, Virtual Environment andMulitmodal Interaction Lab,FoglerLibrary, Student Accessibility Services, The Writing Center and the Advance Structures and Composite Center; 8 90-minute social skills training sessions over four weeks. Program outcomes included: enhancement of self-determination and self-advocacy skills; improved abilities to advocate in post-secondary environment; increased self-efficacyand problem solving skills; development of an individual college success plan; increased knowledge of post-secondary programs that will help students achieve their career goals; increased knowledge of the supports and accommodations that each student needs to be successful; greater understanding of the kinds of programs and activities that are available at the University of Maine campus; and, increase in students' measured social-communication skills. CCIDS conducted longitudinal evaluation of post-secondary and employment outcomes through data on post-secondary and employment outcomes 1, 3, and 5 years after completing the STEP-UP program. |