Loyalist launches program for students with learning challenges

An information session about the new program was held in Alumni Hall on Tuesday. Photo by Rachel Bell, QNet News

By Rachel Bell 

BELLEVILLE – Loyalist College is launching a two-year program called Community Integration through Co-operative Education this September.

The new program is designed to accommodate people with intellectual disabilities and other significant learning challenges. It will give the students a chance to experience college life and develop skills to prepare them for employment.

Marilyn Jackson, who attended an information session about the program on Tuesday, said she thinks the program is overdue for Belleville.

“My own daughter is 35 now. When we started into education with her, there was no contemplation at all that individuals with intellectual disabilities would go to college. Not in our area anyway,” said Jackson. She a member of the Family Action Committee of Community Living Belleville, a support group for people with intellectual disabilities. 

The program will give students with learning challenges a better chance to achieve their education-based goals, she added.

“There are a lot of people who have graduated high school who are just not finding their niche because they have some kind of disability that prevents them from easily integrating with the program. And yet they’ve got a lot of ability.”

Kathleen Bazkur, dean of Media, Arts and Design and Continuing Education at Loyalist, said she is a big believer in students having equal opportunities.

“Loyalist College is an access college,” Bazkur said. “The CICE program is responsive to the needs of our community.”

Applicants will go through a process to determine if they are the right fit for the program, she said.

“The applications will give us an opportunity to review the eligibility requirements and come up with a list of students we can interview to determine their suitability.”

The program has a total of 15 spots to fill, and applicants will know by April if they will be joining the Loyalist College community.