Governor Sanders Signs Proclamation Naming May 1 Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day

LITTLE ROCK, MAY 28 — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed a proclamation naming May 1 Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day in Arkansas.

Arkansas State University H.O.W.L. (Helping Our Wolves Learn) Transition Program joins the Natural State of Inclusive Groups in Higher-Education and transition alliance along with Think College, located in Boston, and dozens of other states in the signing of the proclamation.

According to thinkcollege.net, inclusive postsecondary education refers to students with intellectual disability who go to college, or postsecondary education, can continue to learn after high school, just like their peers and their siblings, can go to college even if they have not received a high school diploma, can go to college regardless of test scores, can access financial aid if they are eligible, making them more likely to have competitive jobs after college.

There are approximately 51 colleges and universities in Arkansas, and only four have options for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the enrollment capacity of less than one percent of college age Arkansans with disabilities.

A-State offers one of the four inclusive programs in the state, the H.O.W.L. Transition program which helps students with disabilities grow through mentoring, social skills, career planning, independent living skills and tutoring. Plans to add additional services are currently in the planning stages to help enhance the already offered program.

“We are so thrilled that our programs and more specifically our students are being recognized. This proclamation is significant in that students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have options and can pursue their independent and vocational goals by being a college student in Arkansas. We want everyone to have the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Director of the H.O.W.L. Transition Program Dr. Kristin N. Johnson.