by Sofia Mattix, staff writer

Among new programs this fall semester, ASPIRE offers students with intellectual disabilities extra support for their college experience.

The Achieving Success through Personalized Inclusive Real-World Education (ASPIRE) three-year program started this fall and is run by PPSC’s new Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program for students with intellectual disabilities.

CTP’s design of this opportunity is for individuals between the ages of 18 and 26 who have strong career goals. ASPIRE helps those students who face difficulties learning at the same speed as their peers but are still as motivated to have a successful future. Kassy Lopez, ASPIRE program manager, says that ASPIRE benefits students academically, socially, and professionally.

The ASPIRE graduate program consists of 16 credit hours predetermined, which include life skills, stress management, and communication. Lopez says, “professionally, the program helps students connect their coursework with real-world skills, internships, and career pathways so they are prepared for meaningful employment and life after college.” Then, the students get to pick 16 hours of predetermined classes for their own interests, required to keep a 2.0 GPA at all times. In addition to their required classes, these students get to choose activities and classes they personally enjoy. ASPIRE costs $1500 more each semester for these students, as they are eligible for some cost help, they are not eligible for student loans.

Lopez says another way that ASPIRE is beneficial, “socially, students are included in campus life, leadership opportunities, and clubs, helping them build friendships and confidence. ASPIRE is about inclusion, equity, and opportunity.” Lopez encourages students to either apply if they are interested in utilizing ASPIRE, or get involved as peer mentors. Students with intellectual abilities are capable of thriving in college, and ASPIRE is there for them to do just that.

ASPIRE isn’t just for those students, it’s also for others to reach out, be a friend, and support their classmates. The ultimate inspiration behind the program is to show how inclusive education benefits everyone. The ASPIRE program is just another way PPSC wants to “create a stronger, more supportive community where all students feel like they belong,” says Lopez.

Further information on ASPIRE can be found by emailing kassy.lopez@pikespeak.edu or visiting https://www.pikespeak.edu/aspire.