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The UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholar Program

Beth Foraker

Vision For The Future Conference - October 2021

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Why Does Inclusive College Matter?

Higher Education is about opportunity:

More stable relationships

More civically engaged

Better paying jobs

Better health outcomes

Happier life

Better life outcomes across every metric

Why would we deny an entire segment of society access to this opportunity?

This is about FREEDOM.

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What percent of adults with intellectual disabilities in California currently make a living wage?

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Our outcomes are catastrophic.

Source: https://scdd.ca.gov/average_hourly_wage/

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Time for a guess:

How many California young adults 18-26 are waiting for this opportunity??

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In 2010, the Federal government gave the first TPSID (Transition and Post-secondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) grants to develop inclusive post-secondary programs at universities and colleges around the country. Also created Think College: www.thinkcollege.net

In 2015, 25 more TPSID grants were awarded. 0 in CA.
In 2020, 22 more TPSID grants were awarded. 3 in CA

Currently, there are over 250 college programs for students with intellectual disabilities! (Very few offer inclusive living.)

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If you look at the map, it says that there are 17 inclusive post-secondary options in California…but that includes mostly community college options.

There are only 2 that offer housing

None that offer a four year program.

West Virginia still has NONE.

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UC Davis was awarded

$2.1 million US Dept of Education TPSID Grant in October 2020!

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What’s great about our program?

It is a collaboration between UC Davis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion AND UC Davis Health MIND Institute!!
It is a four year program…first of its kind in both CA and the west!
It is a cohort model - the dream: more friendship opportunities
The residential piece gives students who are typically very socially isolated a chance to learn important social skills in context with peers…a chance to develop skills to live independently…a chance to make decisions as a young adult

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What Does Inclusive College Look Like??

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It looks like the first football game…and finding some

Aggie gear.

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It’s learning to problem-solve so that you won’t be late to class…choosing to get your lunch to go and eating it in front of the building of your afternoon class so you will be on time.

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There Were Only THREE Cities in the Nation that Offer Inclusion Preschool-Four Year College…

*NOW, there is one city in California that offers a

PreK-Four Year College Continuum of Inclusion.*

The City of Davis!!

*Continuums of Inclusion*

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