ClemsonLIFE Program Overview and Inclusivity on Campus
Inclusion for people with disabilities in today’s society has improved so much over the past ten years. Not only throughout society in general has inclusion thrived, but more recently, inclusion has immersed itself within schools and colleges around the United States. One college in particular that I would like to focus on is Clemson University. Back in 2009, Clemson University started a program that enabled people with disabilities to attend college and learn valuable life skills. Clemson University gave life to the ClemsonLIFE program, starting with an enrollment of just five students in 2009, the program has now expanded to about 40 students, and the enrollment will go up even higher. The ClemsonLIFE program has greatly impacted both its students and teachers, giving the students the life skills they need to live independently or work jobs, while also giving the teachers lasting memories and positive attitudes. Students in ClemsonLIFE will learn different skills such as nutrition, cleaning, working jobs, and people skills as they go through the program, giving them a very high chance of finding jobs after they complete the program. The most important factor of the ClemsonLIFE program is promoting inclusivity. Promoting inclusivity is so vital for programs like ClemsonLIFE to succeed because including everyone (especially people with disabilities) helps people feel important, loved, and needed in society. The mission of the ClemsonLIFE program says, “ClemsonLIFE offers a collegiate experience that prepares young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living through a combination of academic coursework and career exploration.”[1]
[1]Welcome to ClemsonLIFE, www.clemson.edu/education/research/programs/culife//index.html.
The ClemsonLIFE program and other disability programs/classes on college campuses are a relatively new concept that have been proven successful for their students. Students with disabilities, especially in college, are just like everyone else in that they are hopeful in coming to a university and leaving with a degree, lasting friendships, and, most importantly, an education. Universities all across the nation are seeing a spark in promoting inclusivity, specifically for students with disabilities. The spark in these programs has been amazing throughout the last decade, and today, more schools are choosing to allow students with disabilities to enroll in their classes, thus promoting inclusivity on campuses. Students with disabilities can now feel the excitement of being able to go off to college, just like everyone else, and they can also feel like they get the entire college experience. Many people did not realize that this would not be a possibility for students about ten years ago, but now enrolling students with disabilities has become a great opportunity to enrich a college campus. The ClemsonLIFE program’s website says that belonging to groups helps support motivation and learning for those with disabilities, and that it helps to higher participation in community life.1The enriching experience of having students with disabilities not only affects those with disabilities, but it also affects others in the community in a positive way. Students at Clemson University are very involved with the lives of students in the ClemsonLIFE program, and form amazing relationships with them as well. Many students love being involved as volunteers in the program. Students who participate in the ClemsonLIFE volunteer program can be a classroom assistant, a lunch/dinner peer, a workout peer, etc. The program coordinator at Clemson University’s ClemsonLIFE program, Erica Walters, says that, “…really our students have authentic relationships with the other students,” and that the ClemsonLIFE program has over 400 volunteers.[1]The relationships that students form with ClemsonLIFE students create an amazing impact on campus, ultimately making the program a large success on Clemson University’s campus.
[1]Swift, Taylor, and Erica Walters. “Interview with Erica Walters.” 18 Nov. 2019.