Lipscomb’s IDEAL program is experiencing changes as a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s $1.6 million TPSID grant.
The IDEAL program started in January 2014 with only three students, and it has since grown to 15 students. IDEAL is a two-year post-secondary certificate program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The students enrolled in the program participate in two IDEAL-specific courses, two university courses and complete internships on and off-campus.
The Department of Education’s TPSID Program (The Model Comprehensive Transition and Post-secondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) awards grants to universities to help start or grow programs for students with intellectual disabilities.
Only 25 programs nationwide were selected to receive this grant. Three out of the 25 programs chosen were from Tennessee—IDEAL, Next Steps at Vanderbilt, and TigerLIFE at the University of Memphis. Lipscomb received the grant at the end of September last year.
“We’re really proud that we were selected,” said IDEAL Program Director Mallory Whitmore. “It means that the Department of Education views IDEAL as a model program that can be recreated in programs across the country. It’s a commendation of our work so far, and shows their belief in the work that we can continue to do with more resources.”
The IDEAL program will experience changes because of the grant, including hiring new staff members, which allows for a smaller student to staff ratio.
Laura Roberts, Assistant Director, Joanna Wagner, Program Manager for Off-Campus Job Development and Erin Perry, Graduate Assistant for Applied Behavioral Analysis, were all hired to begin this semester. Meghan Anglim, former IDEAL graduate assistant and 2015 Lipscomb graduate, was promoted to Program Manager for On-Campus Job Development.
“It will allow us to expand our impact, which we’re excited about both on campus and out in the community,” Whitmore said.
Other changes to the IDEAL program will involve expanded community involvement, a week-long IDEAL Summer Academy (a trial experience for prospective IDEAL students) and the addition of job coaches to help IDEAL students during their internships.
Some of the biggest modifications to the program will be adding an optional third year to the program and adding more emphasis on job readiness and placement, according to Whitmore.
Photo courtesy of Zach Green