{"id":680,"date":"2015-04-13T21:33:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-14T02:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/downtown\/?post_type=post&p=680"},"modified":"2025-03-17T14:10:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T14:10:34","slug":"parents-community-invited-to-learn-about-ucfs-new-intellectual-disabilities-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/downtown\/parents-community-invited-to-learn-about-ucfs-new-intellectual-disabilities-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents, Community Invited to Learn About UCF’s New Intellectual Disabilities Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
A new UCF program to provide an immersive college experience for students with intellectual disabilities is gearing up to start this fall, and the\u00a0first public information session will be held on campus Thursday, April 16.<\/p>\n
The meeting will provide an opportunity for\u00a0community partners and family advocates of potential students to meet with university administrators, faculty and staff to discuss the first program of its kind in Central Florida.<\/p>\n
The information meeting will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the UCF Live Oak Event Center, 4115 Pyxis Lane. For a map and directions, go to Live Oak location page.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUCF is committed to educational experiences,\u201d said Adam Meyer, director of Student Accessibility Services and chair of a new education committee. \u201cWe believe there is an opportunity in Central Florida to develop an immersive academic, professional and campus experience for students with intellectual disabilities who cannot otherwise traditionally access college opportunities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Some other colleges offer similar programs, he said, \u201cbut our goal is to develop new ways to present a campus opportunity to students with intellectual disabilities. We want to be a model program with emerging, progressive practices.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the education committee began working on the program so students could register for college courses, live in university housing, immerse themselves in college life through student organizations and other social activities, and prepare toward independent futures and vocational opportunities. The pilot, a part of the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services<\/a>, will start on the main campus and is expected to eventually become a key component of UCF Downtown<\/a>.<\/p>\n The project is being designed to meet the personal objectives for each individual based on his or her needs and goals, and mentoring will be a key element to ensure student success and engagement on campus.<\/p>\n