EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Community College’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) is celebrating 10 years of its Project HIGHER program, an initiative designed to help students with disabilities earn their degrees.
Project HIGHER helps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities complete a “level-one” certificate at EPCC and find jobs in their area of study.
This year, 26 students are enrolled in the program, and 63 have graduated with their certificate, according to the news release by EPCC.
“Twelve years ago, a group of community members came together at Region 19 to discuss the development of postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” program founder Rick Razo said. “Everyone felt very strongly that students with IDD were entitled to continue their education after high school. El Paso Community College was identified as the perfect place for this opportunity. In 2015, the Center for Students with Disabilities and Project HIGHER students began to learn new study habits, note-taking, and test-taking skills. They learned to self-advocate and spoke to their instructors when they had questions and needed extra help. Students learned to navigate the EPCC campus and environment. They developed relationships with each other and encouraged each other. Two years later, they all participated in the commencement ceremonies. It was the proudest moment of their lives and their families.”…