Inclusive post secondary education.

What does that phrase mean to you?

Inclusive post secondary education (IPSE), at least in the context I’m referring to, means offering individuals with developmental disabilities the opportunity to attend college or university. It means creating an environment where these individuals are able to have these educational experiences and, in turn, discover a more defined sense of belonging within their communities while they gain employable skills. It’s about rights, access and the chance for all involved to learn and grow. It’s also the subject of a seminar that’s coming to Loyalist College next month.

When I was first brought on board to help with the Inclusive Post Secondary Education, Mentorship Event: A Promising Pathway to an Inclusive Life seminar, I was surprised (and disappointed) at how little I knew about the subject. I know that when I was in university there were services in place to assist students who struggled with their course work due to personal learning challenges. I was happy to know that the school was being accommodating, but otherwise gave the services little thought. Now however, my mind is swirling with questions – Does every post secondary institution have these services in place? Are the adequate? What about students with more difficult learning challenges? I realized that I really had no idea how, if at all, the post secondary system was working to benefit the individuals.

As Laurie Baker, a manager of support service at Pathways to Independence in Belleville, told me more about the event and the aims they hope to achieve (Spreading awareness, informing the public and getting faculty on board), the more I realized just how wonderful this event truly is. There are so many people in our community who are either living with intellectual disabilities or who are touched by those who are. The impact a program like this could have here is immense, especially with Belleville being a college city. Loyalist has an incredible opportunity should it choose to rise to the occasion.

Bruce Uditsky (CEO of Alberta Association for Community Living) and Anne Hughson (Director Community, Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies, University of Calgary) will be presenting at the seminar. The pair has traveled all the way from Alberta to share what they have learned on this fascinating subject through more than 20 years of research and observation of IPSE in action. They will be also sharing inspiring success stories and providing tools to help create these opportunities here in our community.

Families, loved ones, advocates, support workers, educators – Anyone whose life is touched by someone with intellectual disabilities will take away so much from this seminar. It will be taking place on Thursday, May 6th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Alumni Hall at Loyalist College. The cost is $20 (includes lunch and refreshments), which can be made to Pathways to Independence by contacting Laurie at 613-962-5085 ex. 269.

The more people that attend, the closer we are to creating a post secondary environment here in our community that is truly inclusive for all of us.

What are your thought on IPSE? Do you have a personal story you’d like to share? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

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