Julia’s Learning offering college education and life skills to people with IDD

by Chuck Gordon

Wingate has long been the academic home for a wide variety of students. This fall, the University took a step forward in that regard.

The most recent University initiative designed to cater to nontraditional students is Julia's Learning, a two-year educational program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This August, an initial cohort of four Julia's Learning students moved into on-campus housing and started taking classes, learning life skills and working on-campus jobs.

The program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to live on their own and find gainful employment, in addition to learning socialization skills.

"The ultimate goal is that, by the time they finish, they will have independent-living skills and a path to employment," says Dr. Melanie Keel, founding director of the program.

Students in Julia's Learning will each take two classes per semester with traditional Wingate undergraduates, in addition to classes just for students in the program. They will eat in the dining hall, live in residence halls, and participate in on-campus extracurricular activities.

Additional students will join the program in future semesters. After one year, participants will begin working off campus. Students who complete the program will earn a certificate that can be used for future opportunities.

There is a dearth of educational opportunities in North Carolina for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Three public universities - Appalachian State, UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina - offer full-year programs, and North Carolina State University planned to enroll an IDD cohort in its newly created Educational Opportunities Program this fall. Other programs exist at community colleges and as shorter sessions, such as during summer school.

Wingate will be the only independent university offering such a program in North Carolina, and the only university of any type offering one in this area of the state.

Julia's Learning will benefit both program participants and traditional Wingate students.

"I think it really aligns with our motto of Faith, Knowledge, Service," says Keel, who started as Julia's Learning director in January. "We'll better prepare our students to interact with, and know how to work alongside, people who are different from them. It will set them up to be better humans when they go out in the workforce, and to have more empathy for people and another way to know how to work with people."

"Wingate University is eager to welcome the inaugural cohort into Julia's Learning this fall," says Dr. Eric Schneider, Wingate's interim provost. "Living, learning, and working on the Wingate Campus will afford Julia's Learning students exciting growth opportunities and enrich our campus community. Dr. Melanie Keel has created a unique curriculum for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities that combines essential life skills with traditional academic coursework tailored to the interests of each student."

Julia's Learning is an extension of Julia's Community, a nonprofit partner of the University that, when fully up and running, will provide preschool offerings, adult day programs, a residential community and employment opportunities for IDD individuals on college campuses. Its purpose is to merge social, educational, medical, mental health, and developmental activities that increase self-determination and self-worth and lead to greater autonomy for people with IDD.

Julia's Community was founded by University trustee Bob Spence and his wife, Lori, whose daughter, Julia, has cerebral palsy. They created Julia's Community to help fill a gap in resources and opportunities for people with IDD and their families. Michelle Lancaster, former deputy county manager for Union County and assistant county manager for Mecklenburg County, was hired as the executive director of Julia's Community last year. This year she became Wingate's vice president for strategic initiatives.

Lancaster will lead Wingate's efforts with the Julia's Community partnership as well as working with the University's town-development initiative, external relationships and academic-resource development.

Lancaster, who has a son with Down syndrome, is thrilled to be leading the efforts at Wingate. "What a great opportunity for families in the region and for Wingate," she says. "This is a partnership that will improve the lives of so many, and I am truly honored and excited to be associated with Wingate University and Julia's Learning."

Julia's Learning students will take the religion class Food and Faith, a sociology class and other classes designed to improve their life skills: cooking, financial literacy, interpersonal relationships and the like.

Keel, who previously served as associate professor and chair of the department of undergraduate education, has a longstanding interest in the educating of students with differing abilities. She has a master's degree in special education from Appalachian State University and has past experience working with IDD students. She also teaches Wingate's Intro to Differentiated Education course.

"It's probably my favorite class," Keel says. "When I saw the job description, I thought, This is for me."

Learn more about Julia's Learning and Julia's Community.

Sept. 9, 2024

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