Elmhurst College program celebrates 10 years of inclusion

ELMHURST – Elmhurst College sophomore Chris Deters is a "de facto mayor" around campus.

Deters, 25, just knows everyone, and everyone knows him, said Tim Ahlberg, the college's assistant director of admissions.

The two met a few years ago at a Transitions Fair, an event for special education students and their families to learn about services available to them once they are ineligible for school district-based special education programs.

Deters was a student at Downers Grove South High School, and Ahlberg attended the fair to inform potential college students about the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy, a four-year certificate program at Elmhurst College for students with intellectual disabilities.

Ahlberg said the program branches into three elements: academic and career exploration, independent living skills, and social and recreational skills, and they all have reading, writing and math merit.

From fast food chain Culver’s to retail store TJ Maxx, Deters worked a string of jobs before making the decision to go to college, the student said.

Now, Deters is living the “college experience” – going to class, holding down a couple part-time campus jobs, hanging out with friends and living with a roommate in a dorm – which is what the ELSA program is all about.

“What we’re trying to do is have these kids live independently, hold meaningful employment and have a meaningful college experience,” Ahlberg said. “ELSA is their major.”

The program, which currently has about 30 to 35 students, turned 10 years old Tuesday, and to celebrate, it hosted its annual student showcase ELSA-Palooza, complete with a musical performance and a raffle that benefits scholarships.

Ahlberg said from building a bigger curriculum that allows students to take traditional college courses to gaining access to financial aid, ELSA has come a long way in the last decade.

Being a full-time ELSA student costs about $30,000 per year, and with housing expenses, it adds up to $40,000, he said.

“Helping families pay for this will always be an obstacle for them,” said Ahlberg, who noted years prior to receiving financial aid opportunities, families had to pay out of pocket.

ELSA Assistant Director Linda Gilbert said as a whole, the program is committed to creating avenues for students to become more independent. Like most college students, especially those nearing graduation, independence is gained through job hunting, she said.

A portion of the curriculum is dedicated to helping students strengthen their skills, build their confidence and research possible career choices through volunteer and internship opportunities, Gilbert said, adding professors make the effort to help prepare them for interviews, “teach them the lingo” – like saying “yes” instead of “yeah” – and advise them on how to look professional.

“I think a lot of people wish we were a job placement service,” Ahlberg said. “We do everything that we can to help these kids find jobs, but we can’t give them jobs.”

Gilbert said she helps students become more visible in the community through various opportunities, but independence also comes as an initiative.

A big stride for independence came this year when the school allowed the program’s students to live on campus in the residential halls.

“That’s a huge thing for us because we’ve always been a commuter program up until this school year,” Ahlberg said.

Currently, five ELSA students live at Dinkmeyer Hall, a residential hall at Elmhurst College. ELSA Housing Coordinator Jane Cannata said next year, they expect to have twice the amount.

“If we want to help these kids live independently, then it would help if we had them actually living independently. That means moving out of their house, having a roommate and doing those kinds of things,” Ahlberg said.

Cannata said building that support system is key to helping ELSA students, as well as any college student who is living away from home for the first time, and that’s where the community advisers step in.

Community advisers are like resident advisers, but they are trained to pay closer attention to ELSA students and encourage them to join clubs and participate in school activities, she said.

Deters’ dorm room is spacious, equipped with all of the college essentials and a couple sports car posters hanging above his bed.

Even though graduation is still a couple years away, Deters said he hopes to one day continue his education and attend Universal Technical Institute, an automotive trade school, and work with cars.

For now, Deters leaves students like him with a piece of advice: Consider going to college.

“College will fit you in a position for a better career,” Deters said.