CONTACT
Andrea Thomas Harrison
Maryland Department of Disabilities
410-767-3654
aharrison@mdod.state.md.us

Chelsea Williams
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
410-455-6380
chelseah@umbc.edu

Applications are now available for the SUCCESS program, Maryland’s first four-year post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. A partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), the SUCCESS program will enable Marylanders with intellectual disabilities to develop their independence, critical thinking, problem-solving and employment skills in a university setting. The four-year college experience will also give them the opportunity to interact with their peers through a wide array of inclusive, educational, social and recreational campus-based activities.

The program will be housed in the Shriver Center at UMBC. Named for Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, the Shriver Center at UMBC promotes the integration of civic engagement, teaching, learning, and discovery on campus, regionally, and nationally. The SUCCESS program is a natural outgrowth of the Shriver and Kennedy family values.

The first group of students will begin classes in the Fall 2012. Students will be responsible for their room and board as well as any additional costs not covered by the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). To be eligible for the SUCCESS program, students must meet the following criteria:
• Be exiting high school with a certificate in Spring 2012.
• Be able to read at a 3rd grade level (minimum requirement).
• Have basic computer skills and the ability to use a keyboard and mouse.
• Have knowledge of basic mathematics and the ability to use a calculator.
• Exhibit conduct and behavior that are age appropriate.
• Have the ability to function independently for a sustained period of time.
• Have the ability to be successful in competitive employment situations.
• Have the desire and motivation to complete a post-secondary program.
• Have a willingness to complete all assignments with support.
• Be a full time resident of Maryland and have an intellectual disability.

Applications are available from the UMBC Shriver Center at http://shrivercenter.umbc.edu and must be submitted no later than July 10, 2012. SUCCESS candidates may be interviewed by a selection committee. Candidate selection is not based on the student’s disability, but rather on the student’s level of motivation to attend college and his/her ability to serve as an Ambassador of “SUCCESS.”

Completed applications must include:
• UMBC Non-Credit Application form.
• A recent photo.
• Most recent school transcripts.
• Three reference letters from individuals who know the student well but are not family members. At least one letter should be from a teacher or employer.
• A one-page essay on “Why I want to go to college.”
• A resume or brief description of interests, volunteer and work experiences.
• A non-refundable application fee of $50.

For more information about the SUCCESS program, call the Maryland Department of Disabilities at 410-767-3660 or send an email to mdod@mdod.state.md.us.