Five students needed to roll out inclusive pilot program at Ivy Tech Fort Wayne

Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne is looking for five students to enroll in its new inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) pilot program this fall. Success Through Resiliency and Valuable Education (STRIVE) offers those with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to engage in inclusive post-secondary education, gain independence, and socialize with typical peers while earning work-ready credentials and skills.

 “Ivy Tech felt like a natural place to host an IPSE program because of its dedication to inclusion and diversity,” says Meg Rondot, Director of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne’s Disability Support Services. “Students with disabilities deserve the same opportunities to achieve their educational, occupational, and personal goals alongside their nondisabled peers. This is another way Ivy Tech helps make our community more equitable and just.”  

Ivy Tech will pay tuition for the students’ first year enrolled in this program. To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

• Be diagnosed with an intellectual disability
• Have at least a 3^rd grade reading comprehension level and ability to respond to prompts verbally, or through speech-to-text, writing, or typing
• If applicable, guardianship or POA documents
• Have functional communication skills to communicate basic needs and personal information, i.e. emergency contacts
• Be punctual and have record of good attendance

The STRIVE pilot program was made possible through the generous grants provided by AWS foundation, whose mission ‘is to help children and adults with enduring intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities live as independently as possible, be included in the community and function at their highest potential.’ The framework of STRIVE focuses on providing high levels of support and raising expectations for student achievement.  

“People with disabilities are an untapped market of employees,” says AWS Foundation CEO, Patti Hays. “We are happy to partner with Ivy Tech to ready those with disabilities for gainful employment while getting to experience college with peers without disabilities.”

Other organizations in the community are already supporting STRIVE and its students’ success. Places like Don Ayres Honda and Acura will be offering internships to students in the program.

If you know any motivated students with an intellectual disability, please encourage them to apply! For more information, please email fortwayne-dss@ivytech.edu.