With the start of a brand-new school year, Dr. Jerry Alliston, the associate director for the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), discussed some of the new initiatives that the institute hopes to take on.
One of such initiatives is focused on organizing specialized services for USM students with autism.
“We want to set up student partners that can help with getting integrated into campus and work on socialization. We do offer a socialization group that was geared towards students of all ages with autism. We are also exploring some additional autism training for some of our staff. One example is a focus on executive functioning which is a huge need area, besides socialization for people with autism and related disabilities,” Dr. Alliston explained.
Expanding on the services that institute offers, Dr. Alliston explained that the institute has four emphasis areas, one of which is education. This includes services that are geared towards “promoting quality learning experiences and pre-employment transition services training for Mississippians with disabilities ages 14-21.”
Citing an example of services that fall under this education branch, Dr. Alliston mentions the RISE program, which is “an-inclusive post-secondary education for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who want to go to college here at USM.”
The other emphasis areas of IDS include capacity building, community living, and family engagement.
Peer mentoring is another area that the institute hopes to focus on, where employed young people in high school, college or in their early twenties can serve as mentors to younger people who are just starting their employment journey.
Dr. Alliston adds that the institute is also looking into inclusive esports opportunities. “We’ve talked to the state Special Olympics office. So, I think we are going to be piloting something in the near future,” Dr. Alliston stated
Additionally, Dr. Alliston discussed another program aimed at building “a family network across the state.” Currently, the program is in its initial stages.
The Institute for Disability Studies, which serves as a University Center of Excellence on Developmental disabilities (UCED), is one of 67 similar institutes spread across the country.
While the institute is directly affiliated with USM, Dr. Alliston added that “a lot of our services are for the greater community, but we do serve the students as well.”
The mission statement of IDS reads as follows:
“To positively affect the lives of Mississippians with developmental and other disabilities and their families of all ages and backgrounds, and work toward increasing their independence, productivity and engagement in their communities.”
“We want people to be productive, we want them to be part of their community, we want them to reach their dreams as much as they want and desire,” explained Dr. Alliston.
Discussing the importance of the involvement of the general student population with the institute, Dr. Alliston explained that service and volunteerism lie at the heart of the institute’s activities and the institute provides “a robust volunteerism program” which aims to foster inclusion.
“Regardless of what profession you go into, you’re going to work with people of disabilities at some time, so it’s good just to have some basic foundational knowledge and experiences,” said Dr. Alliston.