The five students, who live on campus with undergraduates who serve as residential mentors, appreciate the opportunity to gain their independence. “It finally proves that I can take care of myself, although I do have other people who also help me,” said Carrizal, who has learned to do his own laundry, wash his dishes and clean the bathroom.

The students also attend weekly seminars on independent living, career awareness and self-determination, and are encouraged to join Texas A&M organizations. They are also matched with ACHIEVEMates, a group of undergraduates who provide support navigating college and serve in a variety of academic, wellness and social roles.

Hitting the Books

The cohort can be found in classrooms across campus, participating in approximately five hours of inclusive coursework each semester. “The instructors have been very welcoming, and they’ve requested Aggie ACHIEVE students in their classes,” said Aggie ACHIEVE Program Director Dr. Olivia Hester.

Interested faculty members worked with Gilson and Hester to determine ideal courses and adapt syllabi to meet students’ learning styles. “The biggest change I made is giving greater flexibility in how these students demonstrate their learning,” said Instructional Assistant Professor Rayna Dexter, who had two Aggie ACHIEVE students enrolled in her fall semester theater history course. “These students can choose the best method for them to demonstrate what they’ve learned.”

During the spring 2020 semester, the students will participate in on-campus internships. When they are juniors, they will focus more on career development and specialization, including off-campus internships in personal areas of interest, such as Carrizal’s dream of writing and directing films.

This program is creating a new level of understanding and inclusion among Texas A&M’s faculty and students. “Aggie ACHIEVE is important to Texas A&M as it continues to make higher education available to everyone,” said Abe van Helmond ’20, a chemistry major who was a co-chair for the group’s Fish Camp. “This program makes people more aware of students with intellectual and learning disabilities, who have the same aspirations as every other student.”

To learn how you can support the Aggie ACHIEVE program, contact Jody Ford below.

Investing in Inclusion

Texas A&M’s groundbreaking Aggie ACHIEVE program is a major investment. The annual cost for each participant exceeds $30,000, which includes university and program support fees, housing and meal plans, and university access fees.

Fortunately, the program has received generous support from individual and corporate donors. For example, Aggie ACHIEVE received a $100,000 grant from the H-E-B Tournament of Champions, a series of events and volunteer work projects involving H-E-B partners, vendors and suppliers that has raised more than $118 million to support more than 600 organizations since 1986.

“H-E-B and the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our communities,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Tournament of Champions trustee. “Aggie ACHIEVE’s mission to provide an immersive college experience for young adults with intellectual and development disabilities, while equipping them with the tools they need for employment, is a great example of what it means to be inclusive.”