Many of you have heard the question that started the ministry – “Could our class possibly do something to help children with intellectual disabilities?”
In this same spirit, the leadership of Shepherds Ministries,
and now Shepherds College, constantly asks the question, “What more can we do to help people with
intellectual disabilities?”
Picture this – a young man sits with his parents in front of
your desk. He’s bouncing with energy and excitement. There is hope in the
parent’s eyes and tight lines of tension visible across their cheekbones and
jawline. They want their son in your post-secondary program. There are so few
options available to him, and your program offers such promise for their son’s
future.
After testing and interviews, you realize that he doesn’t
qualify for the program. Maybe he can’t read or do basic addition, or maybe his
social skills won’t allow him to interact with teachers or his classmates. You have to tell this family, “I’m sorry, but your son can’t attend
Shepherds College.”
Yuck. I don’t know how you’d feel about it, but we hate
saying that.
As strong believers in finding purpose in life, in training for
life and empowering to serve, continuous education is a passion of ours. We don’t
want to say no to people who desire to keep learning.
So what happens when our program isn’t a good fit for many
people with intellectual disabilities?
We say to ourselves, “There’s
obviously a gap in our services, so what can we do to help the people who don’t
meet the Shepherds College requirements?”
We create Ai Academy.
Ai Academy is our new two-year life skills training program tailored
to meet the needs of young adults in their personal pursuit of Appropriate
Independence™.
The program eliminates the academic and vocational training of the college
program while focusing on daily living skills, social development, spiritual growth
and community involvement and service. Ai Academy participants would reside in
the Shepherds College dorms and participate in almost every facet of the SC
residential life program.
The training component of Ai Academy would involve a great
deal of repetition and experiential learning, all developed around the
principles of Appropriate Independence and incorporating R.E.A.L. instructional
methods.
Erin Luchterhand, an instructor and Academic Advisor from
Shepherds College, will be the primary lead instructor for Ai Academy. Her strengths
are wonderfully suited for this new role, and we know she’ll be a blessing to each
participant that goes through the program.
Please pray for Shepherds College and Mrs. Luchterhand as
the Ai Academy program kicks off this August. Watch Facebook, Twitter and Time
to Fly for more news on this exciting new development in our effort to inspire
a lasting awareness of God’s plan in the lives of young people with
intellectual disabilities.
Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.
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