The Raven Scholars Program at the University of Idaho is a program designed to help students with disabilities navigate school.
The program was founded in 2011 through funds from Tom Alberg and Judi Beck. This foundation provides support to programs in this area.
According to the Raven Trust Foundation website, the foundation “gives priority to initiatives focused on education, cultural arts, the environment, public policy and health and human services, which may not have a strong funding constituency and where a grant by Raven will have a significant impact.”
The program is currently funded through donations and students don’t have to pay a fee to be a part of it.
The Raven Scholars Program helps a maximum of 30 students on the autism spectrum every semester with their college experience and operates on a first-come first-serve basis. The program aims to help these students with studying, developing stronger social skills and providing support they need.
“The Raven Scholars Program is a supportive transition program for kids who are on the autism spectrum,” Raven Scholars Project Coordinator Leslie Gwartney said. “A lot of times students struggle with adapting to the lack of structure from high school to college life. The Raven Scholars is a resource not only to help students with a specific understanding of the autism spectrum … but also with a great knowledge base of the resources available on campus.”
Gwartney said the 30 student cap helps with case management. She said this ensures each student in the program gets the attention they need to thrive and optimizes their success in college.
Jordan Alexis Sawle, a student in the Raven Scholars Program, said the program helps her complete schoolwork and bring more awareness into her social actions and interactions.
“The program has been a way for me to stay on top of my schoolwork,” Sawle said. “It’s also been a way for me to vent my feelings. I’ve also been learning social behavior, so I’ve not been so socially awkward.”
She said the program is important to her and more programs like Raven Scholars should be implemented nationwide.
“I think all universities should have something like this,” Sawle said. “I hear more and more people in the USA are being diagnosed along the autism spectrum. I think there should be a spot for children who have autism to come to.”
More information and how to apply for the program can be found on UI’s website.
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected].