ASU System Board of Trustees Approves A.T.L.A.S. Program

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. June 11 — The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees approved a new transition program to be housed on the A-State campus in Jonesboro.

The new program, A.T.L.A.S. (Autonomy Through Leadership, Advocacy and Service) Transition Program, will be a continuation of the already in place, H.O.W.L. (Helping Our Wolves Learn) Transition Program.

The H.O.W.L. Transition Program is a two-year inclusive post-secondary program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism and is committed to providing positive learning environments for students with IDD and/or autism.

H.O.W.L. provides crucial services to students, such as mentoring, career planning and specialized classes. These services aid in ensuring the success of the H.O.W.L. students not only while on campus, but also as they transition into the workforce and adulthood.

The A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program certificate is designed to allow individuals with IDD and/or autism access to interdisciplinary enrichment and community engagement empowering students to become self-determined leaders in their lives.

The H.O.W.L. and A.T.L.A.S. Transition Programs examine student outcomes including employment, quality of life community engagement, and social networks, while integrating evidence-based case management practices along with evidence-based practices. The H.O.W.L. Transition Program aims to ensure students with IDD can have the college experience and live independently. The program began at A-State in 2020.

“Inclusive post-secondary education programs are growing fast but remain low with only 330 programs nationwide. Of those 330 programs, there are 76 inclusive post-secondary education programs that offer housing and financial aid. Of those same 76 programs, only 35 are located at a four-year institution. Half of those are two-year programs like the H.O.W.L. Transition Program and half of them are four-year programs. Of those 76 programs, only 17 in the nation allow students to take classes for credit and we are one of them,” said Kristin Johnson, executive director of the H.O.W.L. RESTORE Hub, “Students want to have choices in their college experiences whether it is only attending for two years or attending for four years.”

“The beauty about adding the A.T.L.A.S. program is students can choose to leave at two years with the completion of H.O.W.L., but those that want to continue can apply to the A.T.L.A.S. program. We already have students who are interested in attending A.T.L.A.S. who have completed H.O.W.L.,” said Johnson. “In addition, students want to have the choice of taking a class for credit or for audit with guidance from their advisor and family. Adding the A.T.L.A.S. program allows more students to have choices in their independent and vocational future.”

The first cohort of A.T.L.A.S. will enter the program in August.

For more information about the H.O.W.L. Transition Program or A.T.L.A.S., contact RESTORE Hub Communication Specialist Jessica Rainwater at (870) 972-3911 or jrainwater@astate.edu.