Start a scholarship fund for youth with intellectual disabilities.Christina Goldstone

I would like to help young adults with intellectual disabilities be able to attend one of the new college programs created just for them. (see thinkcollege.org) Designed to give them the same chance as their peers to have a college life experience, these programs have academic, vocational and independent living components. Studies show that they have a very positive impact. Because of the individual support that they offer, the programs can be quite costly. Scholarship money is rare for this new population of students. Even middle class families struggle to afford the programs. Most never created college funds for their children with ID. Most have already spent large sums for special services to help their children. Families will most likely have to provide some financial support for their children for their entire lives. College loans are difficult for these students to pay back because most will not earn high salaries upon graduation.