First Grads with Disabilities Have Associate Degree in Occupational and Life Skills
Monday, June 16th, 2008It’s Graduation Time and Four Students with Mental Disabilities are Walking
I am so happy to see that Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Washington - in the Seattle area, has developed an associate degree program for students with mental diabilities to be sense the accomplishment and pride that comes with earing a degree. An article in the Seattle P.I. Newspaper (link here) stated:
“To earn the degree, students must complete 90 credits over four years — twice as long as traditional associate degrees. But unlike transitional programs at high schools and expensive private academies, the degree pushes students to flex their academic muscles while also developing life skills.”
The director of the program, Mary Allason, said that the goal is to see everyone become self-sufficient and advocate for themselves. The program is the first of it’s kind and the cost is approx. $300 a credit. The program involves 90 credits over a four year period, and students must have an IQ of 70 or above and a minimum of fourth-grade reading, writing and math skills.
Check out more on the article at the link above.
All the best to you!
Lon
