SOARING TO NEW PATHS

CVCC’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) Academy was one of two Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) programs in the state community college system to be selected for a pilot run through the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS).

There are 46 students enrolled in CVCC’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) Academy, with classes on the East Campus in Hickory and the Alexander Center for Education in Taylorsville. Throughout the year, these students take classes in subjects like digital & computer literacy, employability skills, hospitality & tourism, and marketing. Although CVCC’s Adult Basic Education pathway opened in 2017, directors have continued to develop career-specific pathways for all types of College & Career Readiness programs. This includes other vocational opportunities and the very successful Employ-ABILITY Pathway. Thanks to the collaborative spirit of our Career & College Readiness directors, CVCC’s ABE Academy soars above and beyond to engage ABE students in education which enhances their skillsets.

Our commitment to student success did not go unnoticed. Last year, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) recognized CVCC’s ABE Academy as the premier ABE program in the state and selected our academy to serve as a model for IDD Best Practices. This accomplishment was the result of dedication and hard work, and the grant provides more than a quarter of a million dollars over a period of two years to assist our IDD program in establishing Best Practices research and implementation. CVCC’s IDD professionals are now offering technical assistance to other community colleges and community-based organizations across North Carolina, so they can implement similar programs. Adult Basic Education coordinator Vickie Vinson is delighted to receive the grant, and she expects the project will yield positive results for students in Catawba County and beyond.

As part of the pilot, Vinson and her colleagues will develop a toolkit and workbook which includes specific IDD Best Practices information that college faculty and

Dr. Chanell Butler-Morello, Chief of Staff for the Office of the President, shares how this program shatters stereotypes. “Our differently-abled students are amazing employees,” she says. “These people need quality education, and many community colleges don’t know where to start. With these toolkits, community colleges can serve this population to the best of their ability.” After researching job data for the Unifour area, Vinson and her College and Career Readiness colleagues determined that Early Childhood Education and Manufacturing programs are in high demand. It’s an opportune time to increase training in these career paths, and Vinson believes implementing the Best Practices curriculum can help all students, specifically ABE students, complete their education.

Mrs. Vinson, Dr. Butler-Morello and their colleagues hope these pathways will remain open to all ABE, English Language Learner, and Adult Secondary Credential students. Expanding these industry-specific pathways will allow students to leave college full of confidence and competence in any career they wish to pursue.

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