REACHing OUT

REACHing a Milestone On May 10th, our first two REACH students will walk across the stage at the College of Charleston’s graduation ceremony. We look back at how these students and our program started, a mere 4 years ago, and are amazed and what we have accomplished together. The students have not only become fully-independent, working members of society, but our program has grown into one of the most respected and emulated curriculums for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education. Our Program Director, Edie Cusack, is amazed at the transitions Brian and Will have completed during their time at REACH. “Both students have made huge leaps with interaction and communication. The ability to self-regulate communication with others has increased self-esteem and allowed them to truly experience college life,” she says. And with their confidence and achievements, comes increased success for the program. Edie explains, “The amount of professors that have had REACH students in class has increased. It is not as difficult to get support, because the students have proven themselves and won over naysayers.” Brian and Will are grateful for the opportunities they have had at CofC and are happy to support the program that Edie has spearheaded. Will says, “They have given me the opportunity to be one of the faces of the program. More importantly, they have allowed us to show individuals what students can do and not let society dictate what we can do. “ Brian says, “The REACH team did everything possible for me. Everything we have learned here we will use in the future.” Brian and Will’s success is not just in the classroom. For the past 4 years, both students have completed internships, joined clubs and fraternities, been involved with school functions, and proven that they can live independently. “There will be tears,” Edie says of their walk across the stage in May, “walking across the stage at the traditional graduation is such a symbol of the whole process.” Her pride in her students and the program is apparent when she describes college as “functional education that every student deserves.” She would like them to remember that “graduation is not the end, just another stepping stone towards the destination” and she would like to see all of her students “live independently and be in charge of their own lives”. As Brian and Will walk across the stage in May, our program will ‘REACH’ a huge milestone, one that all of our students, staff, parents and supporters can be immensely proud of.

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Parent Newsletter Spring 2014

Academics, Independence, Socialization, Career Development

Congratulations Brian and Will!

Open House a Huge Success

On April 4th, the REACH program once again opened its doors for new and prospective students and their parents. The event was ‘sold out’ and everyone helping and attending the event found it to be a huge success.

Once introductions were made, Edie explained the program and how students in REACH make the transition to college. Although everyone looked a little nervous as they listened to the ‘6 weeks rule’, you could see the hope in parents faces, and the excitement in all of the students eyes. After lunch, parents and students had perfect weather for a campus tour that included the main buildings, a traditional dormitory, and the library.

Upcoming Events

Graduation  

Saturday,  May  10th  

Summer  Break  

After  students  last  exam-­‐  

Saturday,  May  3rd  

First  Day  of  Fall  Classes  

Tuesday,  August  19th  

Scholarship  Gala  

Friday,  September  26th  

 

More  information  online  at:  

https://www.facebook.com/reach.fundraiser.5?fref=ts  

 

Travel Plans for students Before  making  any  travel  arrangements  please  verify  with  your  student  their  class  schedule.  Students  should  not  miss  class  or  exams  in  order  to  leave  for  their  break  early.  If  you  or  your  student  are  uncertain  of  exam  schedules,  please  contact  us  directly  at  843-­‐953-­‐4849.

*Summer  Break  begins  immediately  after  student’s  last  scheduled  exam.    

*Residence  halls  close  on  May  4th  at  noon.      

     

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Parents and students were greeted at the door by Director Edie Cusack and the REACH staff and then given the opportunity to mingle with other participants from around the country. Parents travelling all the way from Detroit, DC, and even Colorado were overheard making comments about how ‘the program has such an amazing support system’ and ‘These programs have come such a long way in such a short time’.

After the student panel, there was a Q&A period with different departments on campus, from financial aid to meal services, and finally a panel with two professors that currently have REACH students in their classes. Parents and students walked away from the Open House educated on everything the REACH program has to offer, and eager to become a part of the family.

In the afternoon, participants got a chance to speak to current students and ask questions during the student panel. This was a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to see how the program has affected other undergraduates with similar disabilities and how much it has changed their lives and their future outlook.

Mr. Farrior goes to Washington!

In February, the director of the REACH Program, Edie Cusack, accompanied Senior, Will Farrior, to Washington, D.C. to speak on behalf of students with intellectual disabilities at the HELP Committee Hearing. The roundtable discussion was focused on students with disabilities in post secondary education and the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Will felt “privileged, honored, excited and blessed to speak on behalf of [his] program.” He explains, “having this amazing opportunity allowed me to do three important things which were, to advocate for students on the autism spectrum, advocate for post secondary programs around the world, and to recognize my amazing school, the College of Charleston…”

While in D.C, Edie and Will were honored to meet Senator Tim Scott- SC, Senator Lamar Alexander-TN, and Senator Tom Harken- IA. They all, along with Edie, believed Will did an amazing job speaking in front of the committee. When Will was asked how he thought his input affected the proceedings he replied, “I was able to express my opinion for the individuals that necessarily don’t have the most obvious disabilities. More importantly, it gave me some reassurance that these politicians are able to go back to the drawing board to figure multiple ways to change post secondary programs from certificate base to degree base along with other things…” The HELP Committee is continuing to modify and revise the Higher Educations Act to “improve rates of college enrollment, retention and graduation of students with disabilities” according to Sen. Harkin. As for Will, this trip to DC has already had a profound effect on him. “This particular trip gave me reassurance that I can find a job [and that] things are surely going to change in the near future for all students.”

PATH  Planning  This  semester  the  REACH  team  underwent  training  with  Meghan  Trowbridge  from  the  Center  of  Disability  Resources  at  USC  to  implement  PATH  Planning  for  all  current  and  future  students.    PATH  Planning  takes  ‘person  centered  planning’  a  step  further,  by  establishing  a  5  year  goal  with  each  student  and  then  breaking  it  down  to  smaller  time  increments  like  6  months  and  1  year,  while  also  providing  the  steps  to  get  there.      

During  the  training  the  REACH  team  was  taught  interviewing  techniques  to  get  students  to  speak  for  themselves,  avoid  ‘leading’,  and  discover  student’s  true  passion  and  future  outlook.  By  speaking  openly  with  the  students  they  begin  to  realize  that  their  support  team  does  not  have  to  rely  solely  on  their  parents,  but  that  they  can  reach  out  to  mentors,  professors,  peers,  and  co-­‐workers  for  help  planning  their  future.      

PATH  planning  is  also  a  great  visual  tool  for  students  to  see  how  to  reach  a  goal.  At  REACH,  the  students  each  have  a  long  banner  on  the  wall  with  their  PATH  laid  out.    Students  are  encouraged  to  draw,  write  comments,  etc.,  on  the  banner  to  give  them  a  visual  reminder  of  what  path  they  want  their  lives  to  take. This  teaches  the  students  how  to  be  active  planners  in  their  life,  in  college  and  beyond.      For  more  information  on  PATH  planning  go  to:    

http://inclusive-­‐solutions.com/path/  

 

DID YOU KNOW? The  first  graduating  class  of  the  College  of  Charleston  was  in  1794.    There  were  6  students  in  the  ceremony.    

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The Photo Booth

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REACHing OUT

Words of Wisdom Your  time  is  limited;  don’t  waste  it  living  someone  

else’s  life.  Don’t  be  trapped  by  Dogma,  which  is  living  the  

result  of  other  people’s  thinking.  Don’t  let  the  noise  of  other  opinions  drowned  your  inner  voice.  And  most  important,  have  the  courage  to  follow  your  heart  and  your  intuition,  they  somehow  

already  know  what  you  truly  want  to  become.  Everything  

else  is  secondary.    

 

-­‐Steve  Jobs  

REACHing OUT is brought to you by: The R.E.A.C.H. Program 66 George St. Charleston, SC 29424 843-953-4811 reachprogram@cofc.edu http://reach.cofc.edu

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