In this episode, Brooklynn interviews Pam Dorrel, the Community Manager of the Lexington Writer’s Room, a coworking space for active writers in the Lexington area. Transcript [Narrator] Hello and welcome to the Community Spotlight Podcast. Each episode highlights something interesting in the community of Lexington or surrounding areas of Kentucky. The podcast was started by students in the College and Career Studies program at the University of Kentucky. Thanks for listening. [Brooklynn] My name is Brooklynn and I am going to interview Pam Dorrel, the community manager for the Lexington Writer’s Room. Hi, Pam, how are you doing today? [Pam] Hi. I’m doing great. [Brooklynn] All right. So my first question is going to be: So, I got to visit the Lexington Writer’s Room recently. And it is a really cool space. Can you talk a little bit about what the organization is and how it got started? [Pam] Well,

In Kentucky, 19% of students with disabilities, across disability categories, enrolled in a college or university in the year following their exit from high school. For students with an intellectual disability, it was 9%. (2024 Kentucky Post School Outcomes Center) The Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership (KSHEP) is a network of Institutions of Higher Education across the state offering higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as CTP programs. Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs support students with intellectual disabilities (ID) who want to continue academic or career and technical instruction at an institution of higher education to better prepare for competitive integrated employment and independent living. Before 2020, when the Kentucky General Assembly started investing dollars for programslike CTPs, Kentucky had only 3 U.S. Department of Education approved CTP programs. Since 2020, Kentucky has doubled its number of CTPs. Application & Enrollment 164 Applicants 48%

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs support students with intellectual disabilities to attend a college or university while gaining life and job skills. Learn MoreVisit https://kshep.hdiuky.org/Scan the QR code to the left

The College and Career Studies (CCS) program would like to spotlight Xin Ni this month. Xin is in her second year in the CCS program. Xin’s main passion is drawing comics. She creates her own comic called DinoFriends, which she posts regularly on Instagram. With this comic, she has made a whole world of colorful characters who explore various aspects of life together. Xin is taking three classes this semester: Writing Comics, First Aid and Emergency Care, and Practicum in Universal Design. In all of these classes, she is using her art skills to learn and share more about those topics. For Xin’s practicum project this semester, she is working with the Graphic Medicine Resource Lab to explore how comics can make healthcare topics more accessible to a wider audience. Graphic medicine is also a field that examines people’s lived experiences to understand health issues better and help improve outcomes

As students with disabilities approach the end of high school, families often face a critical question: What comes next? For many, the path to independence, employment, and further education can seem uncertain. That’s where Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) come in—offering a bridge to brighter futures. What Are CTPs? CTPs are higher education programs specifically designed for students with intellectual disabilities. These programs, hosted by six Kentucky colleges and universities, provide students with the opportunity to continue their education while gaining essential life and job skills. CTPs are approved by the U.S. Department of Education: Students enrolled in these programs may be eligible for federal financial aid, even if they are not pursuing a traditional degree. Students with ID enrolled in an approved CTP can access federal financial aid for which they qualify and state financial aid from the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, and

This document provides information on student financial assistance.

The SEPSEA conference is an excellent opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about inclusive postsecondary education programs. You can attend sessions with students, alums, and professionals to learn more about what different people are doing to increase access to learning, engagement, and advocacy in college and university settings. If you are not a member of SEPSEA, you can also find out more information about membership – as well as details about this year’s conference – at this link: https://sepsea.org/sepsea-annual-conference/#

Nate Palermo – NKU Graduate and CTP Student Nate’s area of interest revolves around environmental science, animal life, and parks & rec. Nate has completed classes in environmental science, psychology, athletics and more. He enjoys playing games with friends, attending NKU basketball games, and working out in the Rec Center. During his time at NKU, Nate has completed several internship placements which include NKU’s Rec Center, the Cincinnati Zoo, the College of Education, and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Nate also enjoys working outside and volunteering his time with Gorman Farms. Supported Higher Educationat Northern Kentucky University

Joe Gerstle – NKU Graduate and CTP Student During his time at NKU, Joe completed classes related to business, athletics, media and more while also participating in NKU’s Greek Life as a member of the Pike Fraternity. In his free time, Joe enjoys attending NKU basketball games, working out at the Rec Center, and hanging out with his Pike brothers. He is passionate about sports and can be found weightlifting, playing basketball, summing, and running to just name a few activities. During his time in the SHEP Program, Joe focused his internship experience on team management and supporting the Men’s Baseball Team. For the last couple of years, Joe lived on campus in the residence halls and provided assistance to the baseball coaches and players during their practice times. Supported Higher Educationat Northern Kentucky University