Oak Foundation 127d ago

College campuses are full of ambition and opportunity, and for many, the transition to adulthood can feel limitless. Yet, for many young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, college is either an unattainable dream, or it is full of barriers that limit participation in work, education, and community life. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a programme called HEELS 2 Transition is working to change that. Founded in 2016, HEELS 2 Transition offers a range of skills-based programmes that support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to build self-determined and independent lives. Through practical, skills-based programmes, participants learn practical strategies for navigating both the responsibilities and benefits of adult life through role-play, hands-on activities, and group discussion. The programme addresses topics such as making friends, finding a job, and moving away from home, while also exploring broader themes such as self-management, safety skills, career development, life skills, and mental health. The curriculum was developed with input from experts, parents, and the participants themselves. HEELS 2 Transition continues to grow. As a next step, it’s building out a campus internship programming, partnering with local businesses to offer participants the opportunity to develop career and employment skills. It also plans to create digital resources and online modules for continued learning that can also be accessed by anyone with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the United States. Oak Foundation supports HEELS 2 Transition through our Special Interest Programme. Find out more about Oak's Special Interest Programme here: https://oakfnd.org/programmes/special-interest/ and Heels 2 Transition here: https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/outreach/heels2transition/