College Programs for Students with an Intellectual Disability in the Southeast

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 disability.

On a national level, there were approximately 25 colleges, primarily in the Northeast, with programs for our young students with an intellectual disability. Close by, in North Carolina, the Western Carolina UP program, and The Excel program in Georgia Tech in Atlanta were getting started. Today, all of these programs are continuing to help their students learn and grow into independent citizens. 

In 2026 there were approximately 360 college and university programs in the U.S. designed for students with an intellectual disability. Needless to say there is a tremendous need for even more programs across the country and the world. The success of these programs has given our special needs family members an opportunity they have never had before. Many of those special needs young people are now living on their own, maintaining a job, driving their cars and yes, some are getting married. Sure, there are still challenges, but isn’t that true for many of us who are “normal.”

Our son continues to grow up, mature, and learn how to be independent.  

In the Southeast, we have been on the forefront of providing college opportunities for our young adults with an intellectual disability. The next chapters will give you a glimpse at some of the programs, primarily in the South, who have all been in operations for over the past ten years. They have all been successful in helping our special needs children grow and become confident and independent. Many of these young men and women have finished their college education and are working, and living on their own.

The SCIPSEC (South Carolina Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium) also has a website, featuring all 6 programs in the State: https://scipsec.com/