Southeast Missouri State University has been awarded $350,000 over the next four years from the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) to establish Redhawks Discover, an inclusive, postsecondary transition program designed to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they prepare for independent adulthood.
Redhawks Discover is built around four pillars that prepare participants for success after high school: academics, employment, independent living and social development. The funding will support the development and implementation of the program, including the hiring of a program director who will lead planning, operations and student support.
“Sometimes the most meaningful work is not creating something entirely new, but carrying forward a vision that others have spent years believing in,” said Dr. Sarah Kuborn, chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. “Redhawks Discover is the result of persistence, collaboration and a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our region. I am grateful to everyone who helped move this vision forward, and especially to the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities for their investment in this initiative and the individuals and families it is designed to serve. I am excited to see what comes next.”
The award marks the return of a vision first introduced in 2019, when an earlier version of Redhawks Discover received funding before implementation was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years since, University faculty and staff, community partners, families and advocates have continued working toward bringing the program to life.
Traci Ritter, vice chair of the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities, was involved in the early planning efforts.
“I was thrilled to become involved with the effort in 2019 to begin an inclusive college program for young adults at the University,” said Ritter. “For young adults with developmental disabilities, a college experience can provide valuable opportunities to build independence, confidence, life skills and job skills as they transition into adulthood.”
Through the program, students will participate in University coursework, employment and internship experiences, independent living skill development and meaningful involvement in campus life and the surrounding community.
“Through members of my own family, I have seen both the strengths individuals with developmental disabilities bring to their communities and the challenges families can face in finding opportunities that support continued growth, connection and independence,” said Kuborn.
As the program develops, Redhawks Discover will create new opportunities for students while strengthening partnerships across southeast Missouri and expanding educational access.
“I’m so excited the board has been able to support so many worthy, inclusive programs for individuals with developmental disabilities in Cape Girardeau County, including this program,” said Ritter.
For more information about the Cape County Board of Developmental Disabilities, visit sb40cape.org. To learn more about the Redhawks Discover program or the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, visit semo.edu/human-development.