Developmentally disabled students going to college at Saint Rose

Brianne Nobis, 26, is one of the four developmentally disabled students now in college, thanks to a partnership between The College of Saint Rose in Albany and Living Resources, a disabilities service provider.

The two-year College Experience program gives people with developmental disabilities the chance to experience life on campus while learning new skills.

The students live in apartments with two graduate students who serve as resident advisors. They attend a non-credit class to help them discover their interests and goals, and develop a network for college life.

Writing hopes

Ms. Nobis, who has Down syndrome, is interested in becoming a writer. She already writes regularly for the Aim High newsletter and serves on that organization's board.

Through one of her class assignments last semester, she contacted the Saint Rose Chronicle newspaper staff and began to write columns.

"It's a commitment and lots of fun," said Ms. Nobis, who also is involved with Special Olympics bowling.

Away from home

Her roommate, Emily Covey, 22, is interested in videography, and has been working on a number of video tours, movies and stories.

Ms. Covey, who likes music and sports, acknowledged a central paradox of college life: While she loves living on her own, "the worst is being away from family."

While she is nervous meeting new people, she said that the program has introduced her to new friends.

Lessons

By having an apartment, the two collegians said, they are learning to deal with roommate concerns, figuring out a schedule for doing chores and deciding who is going to cook.

"We've been getting along," said Ms. Nobis. "Living on your own is hard. How you do things that your parents used to do for you [is a problem], like paying bills."

The students are also learning to juggle work and class life. Ms. Nobis has a job at a deli, while Ms. Covey is currently interviewing for work.

Growth

"I see them growing in areas of self-advocacy and independence," said Sarah Hilton, the College Experience program coordinator, "and in functioning in an environment without depending on support all the time."

Such skills, said Fredrick Erlich, CEO of Living Resources, are especially needed in a world that's often a "black hole or big question mark" for developmentally disabled people after high school.

"There's a need for this kind of program," he added. "Young people need a few more years of mature development. For people with special challenges, often there's never conversation about a college. Now they can have that conversation."

Dreams coming true

Ms. Nobis' goals are to travel and write -- and perhaps have a book with her name on it on store shelves.

"I'm living [my dream]," she said. "I have to laugh. I'm meant to be happy. Now I'm here, and I'm writing. I can sit and write for hours, especially if I'm really, really interested. You write down your thoughts and go from there. A good writer never gives up. The best part of college is finding answers to my dreams."

And the worst? "Fire drills," she declared.

(Some lessons come right to the students' door. One afternoon, students from Albany Medical College came by to help the Saint Rose students become more comfortable with talking to doctors.

Funding for the program is a five-year, $1.5 million dollar grant from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Living Resources and the College are in the process of petitioning more funding so they can expand the program. Prof. Maggie Kirwin of Saint Rose hopes to have full-time faculty members; Fred Erlich of Living Resources wants to be able to serve more students.)

(2/2/06) [[In-content Ad]]