Quinsigamond Community College Gets $148K For Program For Adults With Disabilities

WORCESTER, MA — A local community college in Worcester was granted state funding to support higher education for students with disabilities.

Quinsigamond Community College received a large state grant to support its Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education program. The public school was granted $148,993 to go toward its MAIPSE program, which provides adults aged 18 to 22 with significant disabilities with integrated access to higher education.

Overall, the Healey Administration awarded $3.6 million to public colleges and universities across the state to support students with disabilities. Worcester State University also receieved $160,000 to support its students participating in MAIPSE programs.

The MAIPSE program at Quinsigamond Community College provides its students with resources, including textbooks, laptops, and peer support. Plus, peer mentors assist with classroom navigation, social engagement, and completing coursework assignments.

The MAIPSE program has over 20 students after partnering with seven local schools. While many of those students have been in self-contained classrooms for most of their lives, being in a classroom at Quinsigamond Community College offers a new setting and room for growth.

Staff who work with MAIPSE students have seen an increase in communication skills, accoridng to the school. Several students have also found success after the program, by enrolling at QCC as fully matriculated students or going on to be employed in areas they might not have considered before.

One student is now employed at Assabet Valley Collaborative after gaining interest and skills from a psychology course, the school said.

“This investment benefits students in the program, but also the campus community because we are all receiving education about disabilities,” said Kristen Proctor, Director of Student Accessibility Services & Assistive Technology. “Community colleges are perfect for MAIPSE because having all students belonging and learning together parallels the mission of QCC and embeds inclusion into the fabric of the college.”

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