College Programs

So much has happened in the education of our special needs family members since 2008 when the University of South Carolina opened their doors to three students with an intellectual disability. Over the next year, five more college programs in South Carolina: Clemson Life, Winthrop Think College, The Reach program at The College of Charleston, the Life program at Coastal Carolina University and the Life program at USC-Aiken, began programs for young adults with an intellectual

The USCA (USC Aiken) Life program (Learning is For Everyone) is a comprehensive initiative designed to provide students with intellectual disabilities with the opportunity to experience college life in a supportive and inclusive environment. Students in the LIFE program are encouraged to explore both on-and off-campus job opportunities, giving them valuable work experience and a sense of independence. Students live independently on campus with help of an LRA (LIFE Residential

ClemsonLIFE was funded in 2008, and started its first cohort of five students with intellectual disabilities in January of 2009. Since its founding, ClemsonLIFE has served 139 students with intellectual disabilities. ClemsonLIFE started as a two-year program but then extended to become a three-year, then a four-year postsecondary program. The program is comprised of a two-year Basic Program (BP) where students live in apartments on campus with an Independent Living Assistan

The University Participant program located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and it started in 2007. The University has admitted 80 students to date. The program, like many other programs, has changed based on student and environmental needs as well as sometimes with variations have faced over the years with funding. “We have expanded our number of students accepted each fall semester despite available funding and found creative ways to utilize resources and braided funding toward

Georgia Tech’s Excel program first started in 2015. The program offered by the Georgia Institute of Technology is a four-year college program for students with an intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) leading to two separate certificates. Certificate 1: Academic Enrichment, Social Fluency, and Career Exploration Certificate 2: Social Growth; Leadership, and career Development. Excel courses include content in: Reading and writing Comprehension Math Science/

Winthrop University is a public institution founded in 1886 and is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Winthrop is a federally designated Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was originally an all-girls school until 1974 when it became a four-year co-ed university. Winthrop is a comprehensive university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Currently there are approximately 6,000 students, counting

Let’s start with Carolina Life. I’m a little biased with this program for a few reasons. One is I graduated from USC. Number two, I had the honor of serving on the Board of Trustees for nine years. One of those years was as “Trustee emeritus” as I was President of the Alumni Association. And I’m proud to say the University of South Carolina was the first Life program to get started in South Carolina. That was in the fall of 2008. It was an interesting year. Our son was a risi