The ACCESS program at Mississippi State University is joining the College of Education’s Institute on Disabilities — a move that increases services, resources, facility space, and more to aid students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
ACCESS has been ensuring college-age students with disabilities receive a quality higher education experience for more than 15 years, successfully immersing them in academic classes, social activities, employment preparation, and independent living.
With the transition to the new department, the ACCESS program is further complemented through the institute’s many units, which include the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability, Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic, and Career Horizons Center. Some of the specific features of these centers include assistive technology like adapted driving, dyslexia and reading strategies, and even exposure to creative expression through art.
“Our goal is to continue to bring the necessary resources, expertise, and programming to ensure our students receive high-quality vocational training and independent living skills,” Mississippi Institute on Disabilities executive director Kasee Stratton-Gadke said. “The students are among the largest population of untapped, potential employees in the state, and this opportunity will improve their futures.”
Through the Institute on Disabilities’ initiatives, collaborations are also intertwined with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, a critical partner with the ACCESS program. Additionally, foundational faculty and staff within the institute also bring unique disability-related expertise to support and further elevate ACCESS.
Psychological, behavioral, and emotional help are needs that Stratton-Gadke ensures will be met through partnerships with the school psychology and applied behavioral analysis programs within the College of Education.
Dedicated space in the university’s newly constructed Duff Center, which will be home to ACCESS, will provide office space, a computer lab, and an apartment-type area for classes on healthy, safe, and enjoyable living that mirrors similar environments experienced after college. The Duff Center opens in August.
Jordan Spencer, assistant clinical professor in the education college’s Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations, is the new interim director of ACCESS. He previously worked with this program and helped develop and implement many of the current structures, alongside growing and continuing to lead the Autism Liaison and iREACH programs for the college-age population.
“Dr. Spencer’s collective knowledge and experience make him uniquely suited to oversee ACCESS and related services effectively, particularly during this centralization of MIoD programs,” Stratton-Gadke said. “He strengthens our ability to deliver impactful, age-spanning services while working to grow the institute.”
ACCESS is reported to academically open more opportunities for College of Education students to gain the skills and pathways to licensure they need to secure employment that utilizes their specialized training.
