FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – An Associated Student Government (ASG) senator drafted legislation to allow students with disabilities to place their names on the senior walk.
Abby Hisler, an associated student government senator and empower mentor, created the legislation for students involved in the program called EMPOWER.
EMPOWER, which is short for Educate, Motivate, Prepare, Opportunity, Workplace readiness, Employment, Responsibility, is a certificate-based four-year non-degree college experience for students with cognitive disabilities.
“It’s an opportunity for them to go to college and for them to even get into the program and take 120 credits. Like it’s a big deal, they do internships, they do everything,” Hisler said.Those earning certificate programs on campus are not allowed to be placed on the Senior Walk, university officials said.
“It’s almost insulting that they’re not on the senior walk, because they really are — they’re just a student just like everyone else they just cognitively have disabilities,” Hisler said.
Hisler said that despite completing nearly 120 hours’ worth of course work, EMPOWER students are still not considered degree holders at the UofA.
Ashley Bradleym, U of A director of developmentally disabled, said that upper university officials have repeatedly been reluctant in moving toward getting EMPOWER students on the walk.
“Yes, we have an inclusive program here on campus but at the end of the day, are they fully included if they can’t have their names on the walk” Bradleym said.
Bradleym also said that EMPOWER is not like other traditional certificate programs.
“I think the keyword is a four-year certificate because there’s none of those on campus,” she said.
With graduation coming up, a petition has recently been made in addition to the ASG legislation for the four Empower students set to walk across the stage next month.
“I just think they deserve it. You know?” Bradley said.
ASG officials say it has also felt the drawbacks for this cause from university officials but still plans on pursuing the issue.
“We literally said that if this bill fails, we’re gonna present another, like we’re just gonna keep pushing until they’re literally at the point where their backs are against the wall and they’re like, we have to,” Hisler said.
To sign the petition, click here.