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Written by: Heather Zimar
Published: 06/29/2005 Bellevue Community College to Offer Degree Program for Developmentally Disabled
Bellevue Community College will offer an associate degree program for developmentally disabled students this fall, reports Inside Higher Education.
The Associate in Essential Studies degree will be part of the Venture Program, which currently offers 52 separate courses for developmentally disabled students. The new program will require 90 credits. The program is the first of its kind for this group of students, officials say.
“This population has been ignored,” said Cynthia Johnson, director of the Venture Program. “No one had thought of them having a college degree before. There is a desire by the students, but no one pushed the envelope to do this.”
Steven M. Eidelman, executive director of the ARC, a national organization that works on behalf of developmentally disabled people and their families, said the program will benefit the growing number of developmentally disabled students who have participated in early education programs and are ready for college-level work. He said community colleges are an ideal place for such programs “because they are really good at working with nontraditional students, and they have experience with literacy challenges and reaching out to people.”
Johnson said one of the significant goals of the program is to improve job options for graduates. The program will combine academic courses, life skills and job training. All courses will emphasize written and verbal communication skills, problem solving and critical thinking. Students will also have internship opportunities.
Currently, 40 students have been enrolled in the nondegree Venture Program. Johnson expects 10-20 more students to enroll in the degree program this fall. Eventually, the program, which should take three to four years to complete, is projected to enroll 100 students.
“We hope other colleges will replicate this, and we’re happy to share what we’ve done,” Johnson said.
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