"The Joy of Helping": The Inception of a Transition Program for Individuals With Intellectual Disability

• In Event: Remaining Inclusive: Strategies Toward Building and Sustaining Inclusive Communities

Abstract

Inclusion, equity, and diversity are values manifested in comprehensive transition programs (CTPs) for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). While previous publications described the benefits of CTPs extensively, this paper explored the case of the inception and development of the first CTP for students with ID in the Southwest Florida region. Multiple data sources (i.e., interviews, documents/artifacts, and field notes) were collected and analyzed using content analysis. The three themes emphasized the value of the participants selecting their planning committee team, the crucial role of the university’s top administration in supporting the program, and the team’s motivation in creating a life-changing program that will impact the students, their families, the campus culture, and the community.

Authors

• Douglas Carothers, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Clarisse Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Hasan Aydin, Florida Gulf Coast University