Inclusive College for All and How My Perception of My History Prof Changed

Inclusive College for All

My name is Keiron. In May 2020, I completed the requirements for the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP) at Appalachian State University (App State). Since completing the program, I have been working with a support person at my local Vocational Rehabilitation office. I have been to a few job interviews at grocery stores, but my work opportunities are limited now because of the global pandemic. In the future, my goal is to work in the field of public history.

When I was a young child, I was diagnosed with disabilities. I have overcome them through dedication and hard work, and I was able to go to college through SDAP. SDAP is an Inclusive Postsecondary Education Program (IPSE) at App State. IPSEs, according to the Project 10 website are “programs that provide access to people with intellectual disabilities to postsecondary education.” SDAP is a two-year non-degree-seeking program for people who have moderate to mild intellectual disabilities.

I like SDAP because some of the classes I got to take out of self-interest—for example, my history and drama classes. I have always been fascinated with American history and got to take this class in my final semester. My public history class was the most impactful because it showed me how history could be experienced outside of an academic setting. I liked this class because I am hoping to have a job in this field. This class, and the other history classes I took, helped me think about jobs that could connect people with history. Maybe I could work as a guide or a docent at a museum or historical site. I am sure that I will continue to read and write and think about historical events. I also took drama classes. These classes focused on acting, which has always been interesting to me. I really enjoyed being on a stage and performing scenes with people. I am interested in being a museum tour guide or a tour guide on a Civil War battlefield or in making a podcast drama about certain historical events.

I enjoyed having a campus job, which was part of my SDAP experience. My favorite job was working at one of the movie theaters as part of the film staff. I liked having a job because it was part of my independence, and also I liked filling a role that needed to be filled. The main reason why I like SDAP and why I think every college should have an IPSE is because these meaningfully build independence. When I began SDAP, I had had limited opportunities to make my own choices. As a student in SDAP, I had to live on my own, make my own choices about meals, and set my own schedule and routine. SDAP expected me to show up on time for my job, classes, and other functions. For some of the classes, I had in-class support. I generally had a strong grasp of the material, but because they attended the class with me, I could use them as resources. They helped me take notes, and we would have conversations about class topics. One of these supports is now my best friend, Maggie.

I think every college institution should have an IPSE because it benefits the typical learners and the atypical learners. My friend, Maggie, explained that for the typical learners it’s helpful to have an atypical learner as a student or friend because that way the typical learner can learn more about disabilities through actually seeing it, rather than reading about it. It makes it more real to be able to see it firsthand. For atypical learners who want to go to college, they have a natural curiosity to continue their learning to the next level, and they should be able to fulfill that curiosity. Programs like SDAP can’t scale easily because they’re designed to be a small, tight-knit unit, and they should remain small and be everywhere. It only makes sense for there to be more programs like SDAP.

How My Perception of My History Prof Changed

When I first saw Dr. Michaels, I knew this class was going to be trouble. I’d been waiting to take an American history class for as long as I’d been in college. I was finally going to engage with my favorite subject! But the prof looked stern and unapproachable. Then I turned around and met my in-class support person. “Support” looked bored as he scrolled through his phone. He didn’t even look at me as he gave a thumbs-up. I was feeling more concerned.

Dr. Michaels went through his course syllabus and explained the expectations for the six required papers. Bottom line: he wouldn’t accept late assignments for any reason. As I left the room, I felt super anxious about the class. I turned to ask “Support” for some help. He said, “Facts! Cool!” and then walked away. I was afraid I had made a mistake.

However, the material still interested me. I read the textbook and wrote my first paper. I was optimistic and I put a lot of work into it. I handed my paper in on time. I got an F.

“Support” was nowhere to be found. I was feeling desperate and super sure that I was going to fail the class. I pushed down my dread. I sent Dr. Michaels a note and we made an appointment to meet.

When I first met with Dr. Michaels, I understood that this would be a tough class for me, but it would be a good class. Dr. Michaels explained what he was looking for in that first F paper and in the papers that I still needed to write. He agreed that I could write three papers instead of six papers. Dr. Michaels gave me confidence that I could succeed in this class. When I expressed the concern that I felt I talked too much in his class, he said, “No! Do more of that!” He went on to say that he wished all his students asked questions and were interested in the material the same way I was. Later I found out that Dr. Michaels forgot that I was in SDAP because of how impressed he was with me as a student. He was saying to me that I was like everyone else in that class.

At the end of the semester, Dr. Michaels told me that I had gotten an A in the course. He said that if I had been taking the class for credit, I would have gotten a high grade as well.

My initial perception of the class was totally wrong. This was one of the most satisfying classes I was in at App State. “Support” not needed.