The University of Cincinnati graduated its first class of students with disabilities on April 30, 2016. This class of student comes from the universities TAP program, Transition Access Program, that was developed back in 2012.

There are currently 35 students who are a part of this program, that is within the college of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services. TAP offers a four-year, non-degree option for students with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them the chance to walk across the stage at a university which once seemed impossible to them.

One of the most important aspects of this program is that the students are able to live on UC's campus, giving them the true "college" experience. It helps them learn how to live independently. Outside of classes, they are able to fully dive into any aspect of UC's campus as they wish, getting involved in activities and clubs throughout campus. The TAP students are able to develop social, independent living and vocational skills on a college level and a college campus because of all these opportunities.

During their years at the university, they take courses to support their skill development based on their own goals. On top of that, they take two UC courses per semester as well as participate in a vocational internship each year. To help guide them, they have life coaches, social workers, resident assistants, student mentors, tutors, job coaches and a transition specialists all who work and make themselves available for hem to help with their transition to graduate and their plans after college.

Their experience mirrors any other student on campus; these students are free to do whatever they please, just as any other student on UC's campus is. These students are given the opportunity to continue their education and support a better quality of life for themselves. The program helps motivate this by setting goals and creating self-determination within the students.

Many of these students are told college isn't an option and never see themselves walking across the stage at a university, but with UC's TAP program, all of those preconceptions can be thrown away. They are able to acquire skills and life long knowledge by actively engaging in a true college program.

Check out this video about the Transition Access Program here.