Scholars With Diverse Abilities, Appalachian State University

Scholars with Diverse Abilities (SDAP) is a program at Appalachian State University that started in 2011. Here is a description from the program’s website:

“SDAP at Appalachian promotes the discovery, creation, transmission, and application of knowledge among all members of the university and surrounding communities. Through increased social interaction, share of scholarly pursuits, and inclusive participation in extracurricular activities students and program scholars, the SDAP at Appalachian will increase awareness of and familiarity with individuals with intellectual disabilities among all university stakeholders and by extension, all communities. Specifically, the SDAP will aim to provide educational and job preparation opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities.”

In September of 2011 an article about the program was published in the student newspaper, The Appalachian (Click on the “Web links” tab to read the article). Here is an excerpt that explains how the program works:

“Each student that will come in will have their own plan of learning, so depending on what their career interests are, they will take courses leading up to that,” said Melody B. Schwantes, SDAP program director.
The two-year program will allow students with diverse abilities to take college classes, have individualized instruction, participate in recreational and extracurricular activities and volunteer with fellow students.

The goal is to have 0.01 percent of Appalachian’s population, or 16 students, participating in the program by 2015, Schwantes said.

Currently there is only one student in the program: Courtney L. Bell.”


Description based on information listed online on 1/11/12.
Program description URL: http://sdap.appstate.edu/
Newspaper article URL: http://www.theappalachianonline.com/campus/7791-grant-provides-opportunities-for-students-with-diverse-abilities