Academy for Community Inclusion Enhancement Grant

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by Lynda F. Rysavy | Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Florida Atlantic University's Academy for Community Inclusion (ACI) recently received a grant titled, Academy for Community Inclusion Enhancement: Expanding Florida Atlantic University's Comprehensive Transition Program, from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (FCSUA).

The award is for $300,000 per year for three years, totaling $900,000. FAU became eligible for the grant as a result of its recently renewed certification as a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program.

"This grant provides funds to ACI to enhance the program by increasing the number of students served and increasing employment opportunities for students upon graduation," added Michael Brady, Ph.D., professor and chair, FAU's Department of Exceptional Student Education.  

The grant will fund three instructional personnel and employment specialists to create on-campus and off-campus internship and employment sites and to provide follow-up job coaching for ACI graduates for up to five years after graduation.

ACI staff will also implement curriculum changes to create classes on executive functioning, and create an industry credential centered on a new ACI vocational pathway of animal care, with internships tailored to enhance employment skills for ACI graduates.

Finally, grant funds will support an ACI doctoral scholar prepared for a future faculty position at a university that offers similar transition programs.

The project will enhance ACI at the Boca and the Jupiter campuses, increasing the number of students served and the number of employment opportunities available for students upon graduation.