Resource Fair Hosts Hundreds of Students with Disabilities

October 25, 2024 - The University of Memphis Institute on Disability (UMID) hosted over 200 high school students who have intellectual and/or physical disabilities from Memphis-area school districts for a resource fair which featured community resources that can help these students lead meaningful lives after graduating high school.

The fair also featured Inclusive Higher Education (IHE) programs from across Tennessee. There are nine programs across the state’s institutions. UMID rolled out their table for prospective students, as well as other institutions.

“We didn’t just say ‘only come here.’ We had Vanderbilt here. We had Lipscomb. Part of what we want is to be person-centered, to be person-driven,” said Dr. Chrisann Schiro-Geist, UMID’s director and a faculty member within UofM’s College of Education. “And so, if the best choice for somebody is to go to Vanderbilt, then they should know what’s available at Vanderbilt. We happen to think we’re the best place for everybody to go, but for each individual, they have to make that plan around what really works for them.”

Memphis Mayor Paul Young served as the keynote speaker, engaging with students and answering their questions about opportunities in Memphis for people with disabilities. His recent efforts to revitalize the Mayor’s Council for Citizens with Disabilities, which includes a UofM alum, reflect his commitment to inclusivity.

“I think (Young) was wonderful because he spoke from the heart,” said Schiro-Geist. “You could tell. That means so much to the people in the audience, the people with disabilities.”

UMID’s two programs, Tigers Learning Independence Fostering Education and Employment Program (TigerLIFE) and the College Campus Transition Program (CCTP), which is a partnership through Memphis Shelby County Schools, have collectively instructed hundreds of disabled students and boast high rates of employment for program graduates including 71% for TigerLIFE and 81% for CCTP.

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