Longtime partnership provides on-campus inclusive opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
Cazenovia College was honored by M&T Bank and the Business Journal News Network with the Collaboration Award, which celebrates its longtime partnership with The Arc of Madison Cortland, at the eighth annual Nonprofit Awards. This accolade recognizes how these nonprofits have created a successful collaboration that has resulted in greater outcomes and a higher level of sustainability.
Cazenovia College has been affiliated with The Arc of Madison Cortland for over 10 years through an initiative started by Mary Handley, Ph.D., CRC, a faculty member and program director of the human services program at the college. She has a strong background in inclusion, particularly in developing new and innovative ways to give people opportunities in the community. Each semester, she coordinates an on-campus experience for adults with developmental disabilities.
“The program has had a significant impact by truly changing the culture of the campus,” says Mary Handley. She adds, “Students have come to expect participants with disabilities as part of a typical day on our campus.”
Under Dr. Handley’s leadership, students from Cazenovia College work with adults from the surrounding community with developmental disabilities. They provide therapeutic recreation such as bowling, and arts and crafts. More than just a class, students give people with disabilities the opportunity to experience academic life at a college. They walk across campus together, attend class together, sit together at the dining hall, and develop friendships. The college students, people with disabilities, and staff from both The Arc and the college gain a new perspective about people and their strengths and abilities.
“It is a true collaboration where everyone’s goals and expectations are met and where many positive outcomes beyond the initial ones are achieved,” says Jack Campbell, executive director of The Arc of Madison Cortland. He adds, “Mary Handley’s efforts also help to ensure that college students are introduced to working with people with disabilities, an essential activity for bringing more young people into human services career paths.”
Dr. Mary Handley
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