It’s a special month for Rasul Carter and Niesha Rey, as June marks their graduation from the Bancroft School Transition Program at Camden County College, a collaboration between Bancroft and Camden County College (CCC) now completing its inaugural year.
The program, for students ages 18 to 21 with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, provides specialized classes at the college’s main campus in Blackwood, N.J., as well as work opportunities, interaction with nondisabled peers and a range of other collegiate experiences. Launched in fall 2011, the Bancroft School Transition Program’s goal is to successfully transition students with neurological disabilities to adult lives and jobs.
For 21-year-old Rasul, of Camden, the opportunity to work independently, improve his communication skills and maneuver in social settings through his three part-time jobs has resulted in a noticeable shift in his confidence level. Rasul works at the Aquarium Center in Clementon, does grounds maintenance at the college, and works at a local Wawa.
Niesha, 21, also of Camden, has grown tremendously, too. At her job cleaning the college lunchroom, she gained the respect and admiration of her supervisor, who says he “would hire ten more employees just like Niesha.”
“This Bancroft program enables students who would otherwise remain in their same secondary school — in many cases, for seven years — to instead have the opportunity to develop greater independence, communication and social skills and function successfully in an age-appropriate environment,” said Bob Lenherr, Bancroft’s senior director of education. “We’re proud to recognize Rasul and Niesha as the first graduates of the Bancroft School Transition Program, and look forward to empowering other students to follow in their footsteps in the coming years.”
A recent study found over one-third of young adults with autism had not secured a job or pursued higher education beyond high school. However, for children with autism and other developmental disabilities who will soon “age out” of school — which occurs at age 21, when students are no longer eligible for free educational services under the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act — the Bancroft School Transition Program helps them be as prepared as possible for adult lives and responsibilities.
As the first students to graduate from the program, Rasul and Niesha have completed their high school diplomas in conjunction with specialized classes on the college campus, work opportunities, time for interaction out of class, immersion into society and transition services to increase their mobility, socialization and problem-solving abilities.
Moving forward, program administrators hope to develop a mentoring program between Bancroft and CCC students, and enable Bancroft students to audit regular courses at the college.
Founded in 1883, Bancroft annually serves 1,300 children and adults with autism, acquired brain injuries, and other intellectual or developmental disabilities, through a wide variety of programs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. For more information, visit www.bancroft.org. For the latest updates, follow Bancroft on Twitter @BancroftOrg, and like Bancroft at www.facebook.com/BancroftOrg.
