Fresno Pacific helps special needs students

FRESNO, CALIF.

Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, Calif. hosts three programs designed for students who have special needs. Two Adult Transition Programs (ATP) and one Orthopedically Impaired (OI) class help students who have developmental or physical difficulties. All three classes are for students 18-22 who have completed high school. Most students in the ATP are autistic or have Down's syndrome; eight students in OI have cerebral palsy, six are confined to a wheelchair, some have developmental disabilities and many either can't speak, or communicate via an electronic device.

Students meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the traditional school year. Lessons, which are concrete and have measurable goals, focus on developing working skills, living as independently as possible and getting along with others. Curricula are more flexible than in traditional classes. Staff help students in areas such as writing, hygiene, dressing, punctuality or finishing assignments.

Most ATP students spend at least eight hours a week in a supervised job, run errands for senior citizens or work on campus. All students work on skills such as handling money, using coupons for shopping and practising good manners.

Serving ATP and OI students fits the university mission, says Joseph Taylor, head of graduate learning handicapped program. "I think these children are very special creations of God. FPU students gain more by special needs students being here than special needs students gain by being here," he says.

from Mennonite Weekly Review

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