For TAP students, dream made real
Like any sibling, Arielle Bachrach always looked up to her older sister.
Bachrach, 25, was born with an intellectual disability that made walking across the stage at a university seem impossible. She wanted to achieve all the same milestones, including graduating from college.
“I never thought I would be able to go to college, but it was my dream,” Bachrach said.
When a family friend told her about the Transition Access Program at the University of Cincinnati, that dream became possible.
Bachrach and six others were TAP’s first graduating class to walk across the stage in Fifth Third Arena at UC’s commencement ceremony Saturday.
UC launched its TAP program in 2012 within the College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services. It offers a four-year non-degree option for students with mild-to-moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome. There are 35 students in the program.
“We know that college is a way to continue education and support a better quality of life, income, self-determination, and vocational opportunities,” director Diane Clouse said. “Our students are accessing it, just in a different way.”
Clouse said students with disabilities are somewhat secluded in their educational experience.
“They are often told ‘college isn’t for you,’ ” Clouse said. “This provides a college experience to break that barrier with diversity in mind. They are ecstatic that they are out having social experiences, going to class, and it’s fully inclusive.”
TAP helps the students devel- op social, independent living and vocational skills on a campus.
The students take programspecific courses to support their skill development based on their individual goals. They take two UC courses per semester, either for audit with modified material or to earn credits. They also participate in a vocational internship every year.
The TAP program staff offer academic support and disability services to help students make the transition.