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A chance to ROAR toward a career

Moscow-Pullman Daily News - 4/10/2018

April 10--Washington State University is launching a new, non-degree seeking program to prepare students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to pursue a career.

Called ROAR -- Responsibility, Opportunity, Advocacy, and Respect -- the two-year, postsecondary program is sponsored by WSU's College of Education, although students enrolled in the program may pursue a career in any discipline.

Brenda Barrio, co-founder of ROAR, said the program is open to applicants ages 18 through 29 who have been diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability and have a desire to pursue a career. All accepted applicants will pay in-state tuition. Applications opened April 1, and four students will be chosen to begin classes this fall, with cohorts of 10 students to be accepted each year after.

From there, students will determine a career path they are interested in and audit pertinent classes from WSU faculty, Barrio said. They will also be encouraged to seek internships and will be involved in workshops, specialized training seminars, career development and on-campus living at the Chinook Village to encourage independent living and social interaction on a level similar to the typical four-year college experience.

Barrio has two main goals for students entering the program: first, that they become both independent and a part of their community; second, that they become employable in a career they desire.

Barrio said there is a need for such a program at a four-year college level anywhere west of the Mississippi.

"There are only seven other programs like the ROAR program around the country, so there's a huge, huge need for that, but especially on the west side of the country," Barrio said.

An assistant professor of special education within WSU's College of Education, Barrio co-founded the program with fellow special education assistant professor Don McMahon. Paula Groves Price, associate dean for diversity and international programs, also helped spearhead the program on an administrative level, Barrio said.

The colleagues began developing the program three years ago after they saw a need not only for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but for fellow students, faculty, and staff to benefit from a program. Barrio said the program will provide opportunities for people with and without disabilities to work together.

"Right now, we're pushing for increased diversity at WSU," Barrio said. "This gives everybody an opportunity to truly experience working and being around people with disabilities that has not been done before."

Taylor Nadauld can be reached at (208) 883-4630, by email to tnadauld@dnews.com and on Twitter @tnadauldarg.

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(c)2018 the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Moscow, Idaho)

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