In 2004, a community-wide planning initiative sponsored by CenterPoint Human Services, a Local Management Entity for Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, was undertaken to assess the unmet need of citizens with intellectual disabilities. A significant gap for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities was the availability of post-secondary education and support options. The leadership provided in assessing need gave rise to a grassroots movement including young adults with developmental disabilities, parents, other family members, professionals, community agencies, and providers. This group was committed to discovery of promising practices in post-secondary education for young adults with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. The planning committee found examples of some few existing programs across the nation beginning to develop and provide college experiences to these young adults.
In 2006, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro pledged to work with Beyond Academics to move the concept forward as an Academic program offered by the university. The charter students were identified and the exciting work of birthing a course of study and system for supporting student life began. Later, the program incubated by Charles Hines and Son, Inc. was launched into a private non-profit agency, taking the name Beyond Academics. The agency was specifically designed to partner with the university to provide therapeutic supports that assisted with the students fully benefitting from this highly inclusive educational experience.
Adults from across North Carolina and other states have pioneered a new day in accessing higher education. They are joined by committed partners that have provided resource through grants, other financial resources and technical expertise, including the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, the NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services, the NC Division of Medical Assistance, the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Beyond Academics Board of Directors and the Friends of Beyond Academics. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has embraced this course of study through its many academic departments, services and administrative support departments.
In 2004, a community-wide planning initiative sponsored by CenterPoint Human Services, a Local Management Entity for Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, was undertaken to assess the unmet need of citizens with intellectual disabilities. A significant gap for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities was the availability of post-secondary education and support options. The leadership provided in assessing need gave rise to a grassroots movement including young adults with developmental disabilities, parents, other family members, professionals, community agencies, and providers. This group was committed to discovery of promising practices in post-secondary education for young adults with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. The planning committee found examples of some few existing programs across the nation beginning to develop and provide college experiences to these young adults.
In 2006, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro pledged to work with Beyond Academics to move the concept forward as an Academic program offered by the university. The charter students were identified and the exciting work of birthing a course of study and system for supporting student life began. Later, the program incubated by Charles Hines and Son, Inc. was launched into a private non-profit agency, taking the name Beyond Academics. The agency was specifically designed to partner with the university to provide therapeutic supports that assisted with the students fully benefitting from this highly inclusive educational experience.
Adults from across North Carolina and other states have pioneered a new day in accessing higher education. They are joined by committed partners that have provided resource through grants, other financial resources and technical expertise, including the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, the NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services, the NC Division of Medical Assistance, the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Beyond Academics Board of Directors and the Friends of Beyond Academics. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has embraced this course of study through its many academic departments, services and administrative support departments.