The Augustana University 奥吉访问计划 will offer its first summer experience camp for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities from June 14-16.
奥吉访问, within the Sharon Lust教育学院, is a comprehensive transition and post-secondary program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities designed to increase career 就业, 社会, academic and independent living outcomes. 奥吉访问 is the only post-secondary comprehensive transition program in South Dakota.
The 奥吉访问 Experience Camp is open to South Dakota students in grades 11-12 looking to explore post-secondary educational options. 该活动将于14日中午开始, and end at noon on June 16 — providing students the opportunity to spend two nights in a residence hall. Students will also meet 奥吉访问 families, take a university-level course and participate in on-campus activities. While there is no cost to attend, all potential campers must apply to be accepted.
“The goal is to let them know which post-secondary options are available in our state, because while 奥吉访问 is the only comprehensive transition and post-secondary program, there are a couple of dual-enrollment programs we’d like to partner with,杰西卡·兰姆说, 奥吉访问的主任. “We all have the same mission of exposing students with disabilities to the post-secondary setting.
“The camp is going to look a lot like that first freshman orientation week,” Lamb continued. “They’re going to get exposed to a crash course in ‘What is college?’ and ‘Is inclusive post-secondary education right for you?’”
夏令营的想法来自于Dr. 米歇尔的权力, AU assistant professor of special education, as she scrolled through 社会 media one day and saw an advertisement for camps being offered for students with developmental disabilities who plan to attend traditional universities.
“It got me thinking about 奥吉访问 and all the Augustana events I've been part of where we welcome juniors and seniors to campus to really get the full experience,鲍尔斯说. ”,, 我认为, ‘Wouldn't it be great if we had an experience like that for students who might be thinking about 奥吉访问 or another inclusive post-secondary program?’
“I’m also the parent of a child with a developmental disability,” Powers continued. “Thinking about taking my daughter and putting her in a campus environment — I want to know that it's the right fit.”
鲍尔斯把她的想法告诉了兰姆, and the two applied for a grant for the South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities, 几个月后哪一个被批准了. 在今年的夏令营之后, Powers and Lamb will present their assessment results to the council, which are based on the outcomes of the 奥吉访问计划 — academics, 就业, 独立生活和社会化. The grant supports 10 campers this year, but Powers and Lamb hope to expand the camp in the future.
“I think next year is probably going to see us working hard to visit potential sponsors and say, 以下是结果. These are potential candidates for 就业. Do you see this as something to provide some support for?’”鲍尔斯说.
以及支持人员, Powers and Lamb will help lead the camp, and are excited to bring this opportunity to Augustana.
“I think it's a realization of what real inclusion looks like,” Lamb said. “There are these opportunities for students who don't have disabilities, and to be able to offer these to students with disabilities, that just seems so in line with what inclusion needs.”
“18年前我生下女儿的时候, these programs were just getting started, and it was just a lark to think that you might ever have something like this that your child could attend,鲍尔斯补充道。. “现在, 它们更常见, and I feel like this kind of event speaks to where we are — we have evolved in our understanding of the abilities of the individuals that are served through these programs.
“It just makes me really proud to be able to offer this to families, individuals and school districts trying to make these tough decisions, and this is one way we can be of service and give students a wonderful experience.”
To learn more about the 奥吉访问 Experience Camp or to apply, visit 奥吉.edu/AAEC. 申请截止日期为2月11日. 10.