Parent Newsletter Spring 2014
REACHing OUT Academics, Independence, Socialization, Career Development
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.
Congratulations Brian and Will! Page 1