Most people say that kids with intellectual disabilities fall off a cliff when they turn 18 and complete their time in high school. Even though most of them are still technically provided some services and supports through their respective states until they turn 22, I hear story after story of kids who are languishing in transition programs. I worried that Penny would join them.
Instead, we stumbled upon a program at a local university that is designed for students just like Penny. 30 or so students take college classes for credit or as an auditor while also working on job training and transition skills. These students are integrated into the larger college experience—socially and academically. They also have particular supports and time together.
When we found out about it, it seemed too good to be true.
But then Penny applied, and we toured the campus, and she received a letter of admission. We just needed our school district to agree that this was the right placement for Penny.
Again, plenty of other people at this point have a fight on their hands. Our friends in other places have found programs like this that their school districts won’t pay for. But we just found out that the district will indeed support Penny’s participation in this program. There was no fight about, just a team of people who gathered to congratulate her and talk about how she could be supported.
I have all sorts of thoughts about why Penny is receiving so much more than so many other kids like her (and the injustice of this reality). But for today I’m just here to share this good, unexpected news that is “more than we could ask for or imagine.”
Congratulations, Penny, as you head off to Post University’s Emerging Pathways Program!
*Shared with Penny’s permission
Check out my brand new WORKSHOP: Reimagining Family Life with Disability
MORE WITH AMY JULIA:
- Workshop: Reimagining Family Life with Disability
- Applying to the Emerging Pathways Program
- Penny’s Final Night of Cheerleading
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