Bloomington’s College Internship Program offices opened in 2008 and later moved to Morton Street.
(Allison Zeithammer, WTIU/WFIU News)
Thirteen adults diagnosed with autism, ADHD and other learning differences work toward a college degree or the start of a career this year as students of Bloomington’s College Internship Program.
They join hundreds of others enrolled at CIP Bloomington since 2008. Part of a network of five CIP locations in the country, CIP Bloomington’s Program Director Ed Roe said it serves adults aged 18-26 transition into the next phase of their life. Students receive individualized, specialized support and wraparound services.
“What we're looking at is 13 students here who are all moving towards independent living,” Roe said. “And they're all doing it with our support.”
Students from around the U.S. have enrolled in CIP Bloomington, Roe said, and it’s the only location in the Midwest.
Students must have a documented diagnosis and have emotional, behavioral and psychological stability to enroll. A complete list of admission criteria and processes are on CIP’s website.
CIP was founded in 1984 by Michael McManmon, Roe said. A quote from McManmon is displayed at CIP Bloomington: “You are made for good purpose and are inherently valuable.”
Roe said everyone in the center knows those words.
Students’ lives might be more difficult because of their diagnoses, but CIP can help them find better ways to get through it. Roe said sometimes students join after trying out college and struggling in a dorm or with executive functioning — skills that help people manage their life and work.
“These are not disabilities, these are simply differences,” Roe said.
Building social and life skills for independence
The Bloomington center was established in 2008 and moved to Morton Street in 2019. Students receive support and education in life skills, social skills and wellness.
Students live in dorms above CIP Bloomington. Most life skills are taught in those apartments, Roe said. Students learn how to budget, cook, grocery shop, do their taxes and many other day-to-day tasks an independent adult needs to know.
“We're trying to get them to the point where they don't need us or want us anymore,” Roe said. “We want them to leave because that means they can live on their own.”
CIP weaves social skills into everything it does. Roe said lessons include explaining how and why people do things in social settings. They explore what many people in the autism community call “hidden curriculum.” By the time students reach adulthood, Roe said they feel like everyone else has taken a secret class about how to act in public and how to socialize.
“They feel like it's been denied to them,” he said.
There are many social activities every week, he said, and students can use what they learn with each other or locals.
“We talked about how to do things like how to start a conversation, what are some good ways to do it, how to read body language,” Roe said. “We have them go on social outings with each other, out to dinner on weekends, they do sporting events, they go see plays, all kinds of things.”
Bloomington partnerships help students reach goals
There are two track students choose: college academics or career preparation. CIP students on the academic track enroll in a few college classes for the semester at Indiana University or Ivy Tech Community College.
“I'm always proud to say that we're the only CIP center that is a six block walk from a Big Ten University,” Roe said.
CIP helps students work with disability services on campus and advocate for themselves in class.
“They have study hall opportunities every week. They do one-to-one academic advising, checking grades, making sure that they know who their college counselors are on each campus, who their advisors are, scheduling,” Roe said.
Students who choose the career track follow a specific path: community service first, then unpaid internships, and finally part-time work. While earning work experience, students learn about career options from professionals in Bloomington every week.
“We're trying to give our career students not only experience in the exposure to new jobs, but also getting them into the workspace and getting them acclimated to what it is to work with other people,” Roe said.
CIP students and service projects can be found all around the city. Roe said students work at businesses such as WonderLab, the Lotus Music Festival and Constellation Stage.
The program is currently hosting a clothing and warm clothes drive at BloomingFoods locations, Roe said, and they’ve already collected 10 large bags worth of clothing.
“That's mostly for our houseless population in Bloomington,” Roe said.
Roe said he hopes more local businesses and college academics will work with CIP in the future and learn more about the best ways to employ people on the autism spectrum or with learning differences.
“We're here as a resource that if they are ever hiring students who are on the autism spectrum, or students who are adults who have these particular diagnoses,” Roe said. “We would love to partner with as many community members as possible.”
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her ataubmwrig@iu.eduor follow her on Twitter at@aubreymwright.
