What is U of Iowa’s REACH Program?
Not too long ago, I posted an article about colleges with programs friendly to scholars with Aspberger’s Syndrome. Well, no sooner was it up than guest blogger Amy Stout send an email advising me to check out the REACH program at the University of Iowa, right here in the Hawkeye State.
What Is REACH?
So I took her advice and checked out the program. Boy, am I glad I did! The REACH website provides oodles of information about the university’s “two-year, transition certificate program for students with multiple intellectual, cognitive, and learning disabilities.”
What Do They Offer?
To get a complete idea of what the program offers, you should visit the website. But here are the key program features listed on the home page:
- Big Ten University experience
- Integrated, on-campus residence hall living
- Inclusive academic learning opportunities
- Generous scholarship support
- Quality College of Education instructors and advisors
- Specialized core curriculum and service learning
- Employment preparation and training
- Community-based internships
- Transition portfolio
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
What About the Real World?
From what I could see, the thrust of the program is to get students into the job market. According to the Careers and Transitions page, the program is a mix of classroom study and hands-on experience, including internships in the following areas:
- Adult Care
- Animal Care
- Business Support
- Child Care
- Health Care
- Hospitality
- Landscaping/Outdoor Work
- Marketing/Retail
Again, sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
What Do You Know About REACH?
To get the full picture, it would be great to hear from a former REACH student or family member. What was your experience like? Did it prepare you for the workforce? Would you recommend the program to others? If you can answer these questions, please leave a comment. And if your state has a similar program, please tell us about it!
Proud to be a Hawkeye,
Jolene
Check out Vanderbilt’s project. Next Steps at Vanderbilt University is a 2-year certification program for students with intellectual disabilities, providing individualized Programs of Study in the areas of education, social skills, and vocational training.
http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/site/nextstep/default.aspx