Sam Antkowiak, his mother Stephanie, and Lisa Pluff of UNC Greensboro’s Office of Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Education joined High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson at the April 20 High Point City Council meeting as Jefferson proclaimed May 1 as Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Day. The proclamation highlighted the importance of advanced academic programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), such as those offered by UNC Greensboro.
The recognition of IPSE Day aims to bring attention to the need for educational support that enables individuals with IDD to gain independence and become productive members of society. The initiative is led nationally by Think College, which promotes infrastructure supporting people with IDD after they complete primary education.
Lisa Pluff serves both as director of UNCG’s CTP office and president of The Arc of North Carolina, while Stephanie Antkowiak is executive director at the Arc of High Point. Sam Antkowiak is a graduate from UNCG’s Integrative Community Studies (ICS) program, which offers inclusive academic pathways for students with IDD. According to Pluff, “Our three pillars are career development, autonomy and agency, and life planning. The goal is for them to live as independently as possible after graduation.”
UNC Greensboro has participated in this effort since 2007 when it became the first university in North Carolina to launch a four-year IPSE program. Before then, there were few options available in the state for postsecondary education or training for individuals with IDD. Students enrolled in ICS receive a certificate issued by the Office of the Provost upon graduation.
University Provost Alan Boyette said: “The ICS Program is just one of the ways that UNCG advances the University mission beyond traditional academics. Like all our graduates, IPSE students make us proud as they turn their potential into achievement.”
Pluff explained that inclusion goes beyond simply having access: “There is the idea of inclusion, which is just having a seat at the table,” she said. “But what we are looking for is for our students to truly be a part of the community… It’s about true and deep inclusion of folks with varying abilities.”
Looking ahead, university officials say they will continue developing programs aimed at fostering greater independence among graduates while maintaining an environment where all students can participate fully in campus life.
