Ancilla College says it intends to use grant funds to help develop programs for those diagnosed with Aspeger’s Spectrum Disorder.
The Ball Brothers Venture Fund helped provide $75-thousand worth of grants for various projects through the Independent Colleges of Indiana. Ancilla College’s share of the benefits is just more than $20-thousand.
In the coming months, Ancilla College is looking to train staff and begin development on a web-based resource for Asperger’s students. They intend to use local, regional, and national experts on the subject to help aid in project development. That information will then be shared with faculty and staff at other campuses.
According to college President Dr. Ken Zirkle, there are few Aspergers-related programs available for young adults after high-school. Many of those students are gifted in several areas.
Online learning tools for students on the spectrum are part of a larger plan for Ancilla College to create an on-campus center for autism education. That program will include life skills training and college-level classes for students meeting the criteria.
According to the National Autism Indicators Report from 2015, about 36-percent of adults diagnosed with autism attend college or vocational schools.
