In large part because of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation’s commitment to UDL and inclusivity, BCSC makes sure they work together to help students transfer successfully grade to grade and school to school.
Principals, administrators, teachers, specialists — and parents — communicate grade by grade as students transition to the next level. “This is very important, especially for students with autism or special needs, who have IEPs, and whose teaching teams have created useful strategies that need to be understood and passed along,” says Dr. Dettmer. “What do students need? How do they transition, and what do we need to do to support them? It’s all about open communication.” What about transitioning from high school into the adult world?
Around 2022, Mary Hamlin, a teacher of more than 25 years, stepped into the role of transition coordinator for the district’s new Empower Program. A one- to two-year transition program on the AirPark Columbus College Campus and within the community itself, Empower works with 18- to 21-year-old BCSC students with IEPs who graduated with an alternative diploma. “The Empower Program is meant to provide students with a chance to participate in the college experience while also developing skills to live a fulfilling and independent adult life,” explains Ms. Hamlin. Listen as Ms. Hamlin talks about how the Empower Program was launched, how it has grown community-wide, and why she is so passionate about it.
“With our amazing community — considering the size, the safety, our bus system — we have ample opportunity to be able to help our students truly navigate the adult world beyond the high school setting,” says Ms. Hamlin. To date, Ms. Hamlin works with various community organizations, universities, and companies to help her graduates get experiences or work positions not only to teach them how to navigate life but also to have their best life possible. “The community is learning along with us that young people with autism or other special needs can be incredible employees, incredible members — in so many ways — to our community.
“For me, the work we do is a human rights issue. It is about everyone living to their full potential, having their sense of self and a purpose. Without that, people are discriminated against and are not able to be a full-fledged citizen of our community. Our community is very special. I absolutely love where I live, and the people here truly want to ask, ‘what if and why not?’ Once we can — as a community — have meaningful conversations around naming the barriers and finding ways around them, we’re able to promote this independent living for all.”
Among many others, Ms. Hamlin shares one of her student’s success stories. She remembers an autistic student from back in elementary school — this was before UDL and the inclusivity model had been adopted — who was in a self-contained classroom. Over the years, he got included more often in gen ed classes, then fully mainstream in high school. He became more involved, more confident, and even got his driver’s license. For his senior project, he developed a card for people with disabilities to carry with them so if they got stopped by the police, they could show the card and the police would know that the person, because of their disability, was stressed or reactive, not violent or belligerent. The card is something the Arc of Bartholomew now uses — a non-profit that “promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.”This former BCSC student now lives independently, rides an e-bike, and works at a local grocery store. Recently, he spoke to other students in the Empower Program about his transition out of high school, how he’s chosen to live, and the supports he uses.