Article I wrote for a College Program for People with Autism and Other Disabilities

College Program for Students with Disabilities by AJ O’Hagan

Utica College is now opening its doors for students with disabilities. The program called College Works helps current High School Seniors with disabilities that are looking for jobs, friends, and even social skills. It’s a program is high school seniors moving from High School to employment.

This program between Utica College and College Works started just last week here on campus. There are students participating in it, four boys and two girls. All of them have some kind of disability.

Joanne Donaruma, Director of Employment Services, the Arc explains the program in greater detail. “The students (in the program) go to class with an Art instructor. It’s a specialized class,” Donaruma said. Each Student is matched up with a (Utica) College student so our students can get to know college classes and the (Utica) College students can learn about students with disabilities.

Occupational Therapist majors at Utica College go to College Works classes with the College Works students and the College Work Students attend the Occupational Therapy classes with the Occupational Therapist Students. Donaruma explained that the reason the students attend each other’s classes is so that they can evaluate each other.

The Individuals in the program learn how to do laundry and do grocery shopping. Donaruma hopes that someday the students will be able to stay in one of the Residence Halls.

When asked how the program came about, Donaruma said she that the program first started at the Mohawk Valley Community College. “We have a partnership with MVCC and we wanted to expand our program with post-secondary schools,” Donaruma said. “We wanted students with disabilities to have college experience like their college friends with non-disabilities.” Donaruma chose Utica College as the second site. “We talked to Utica College and they were more than happy to.”

Nick Bonacci, an individual with Autism participates in the College Works Program at MVCC and describes what the experience has been like to this point. “Week 1, we had a fire drill lesson, scavenger hunt around campus, I knew where everything is because I'm familiar with the place, and we went to the Utica Brewery.” He also describes his classmates in the program. “They are okay, a little less social than me. We get along okay.” When asked if he would recommend this program to other individuals with Autism, Bonacci replied “Yes definitely.”

James Smith, an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy thinks this program at Utica College will be a success. “One of UC's strengths is our ability to customize learning experiences to the abilities of our students,” Smith said. “I predict that students in that program will thrive here because of the quality of UC's environment and our culture of inclusion.”

Erin Higgins, Graduate Student Elementary Education/Special Education, also had positive things to say about the relationship between Utica College and the College Works Program. "Any program that opens doors for people with disabilities is a positive,” Higgins said. “I think that with the growing number of autistic people reaching college age it is obvious that colleges will have to develop programs that meet their unique learning styles.”

Donaruma also had nice things to say about Utica College. “Utica College has been very welcoming to us and our students.” Donaruma hopes to expand the program even more and include a post secondary program for high school students. She is also hopeful that the College Works Program will continue at Utica College for many years to come.