WORCESTER—Quinsigamond Community College has received a $148,993 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to expand its Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education (MAIPSE) program, which gives adults with significant disabilities access to higher education.
The MAIPSE program at QCC serves students aged 18 to 22, and connects them with such resources as textbooks, laptops and peer support. Peer mentors help students navigate classrooms, engage socially and complete coursework. The funding also allows the program to host presentations and speakers on topics including neurodiversity.
“This investment benefits students in the program, but also the campus community because we are all receiving education about disabilities,” said Kristen Proctor, QCC’s director of Student Accessibility Services & Assistive Technology, in a college announcement. “Community colleges are perfect for MAIPSE because having all students belonging and learning together parallels the mission of QCC and embeds inclusion into the fabric of the college.”
After partnering with seven local schools for student referrals, the program has grown to over 20 participants, and demand continues to rise, Proctor said.
Cassandra Estey, student accessibility services coordinator, highlighted the program’s role in challenging assumptions. “Sometimes you don’t know when you have assumptions and biases about students who have more significant disabilities,” she said. “This program helps people understand that the limitations we put on people might not be needed.”
Many MAIPSE students have spent most of their schooling in self-contained classrooms. At QCC, they gain experience in integrated settings, which has helped improve their communication skills, particularly when interacting with non-disabled adults in the community. Estey noted that these interactions can also help non-disabled students, especially those coming straight from high school, enhance their communication skills.
Several students have moved on to further success after completing the MAIPSE program, enrolling as fully matriculated QCC students or securing employment in new fields. One student, for instance, gained employment at Assabet Valley Collaborative after discovering an interest in psychology through a course in the program.
For more information on QCC’s MAIPSE program, visit www.QCC.edu/support/specialized-support/student-accessibility-services.
