The High School Youth Preparation for Higher Education (HYPE) Program is a two-year, after-school program - fully funded by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation - at Devereux SPARC in West Chester, Pa., and includes a two-week summer program at West Chester University.
The Devereux SPARC and Devereux Pennsylvania Community Adult Autism Partnership Program (CAAPP) programs, in partnership with West Chester University, will provide transition-age students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) an opportunity to prepare for university life, community integration and future careers/employment. This program will benefit students by: building skills that will assist them in identifying possible majors and areas of interest; exposing them to a college living environment; and helping them increase community integration skills. HYPE will provide meaningful learning experiences for students with autism – and university students – in the following ways:
Participating students will have opportunities to develop social skills and form relationships with similar-age peers, while learning the skills needed to achieve maximum independence as a university student and/or as an adult.
Students will learn these vital skills, beginning their junior year of high school through after-school learning activities, community-based experiences, summer employment and living in a dormitory for several weeks during the two summers prior to entering college and/or the workforce. There will be a two-year curriculum that will begin in June, before their junior year, and end in August, following their senior year.
Through peer mentoring, university students will have opportunities to deepen their understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism, while learning critical professional skills and potentially earning college credits and/or compensation.
Students enrolled in WCU’s Dub-C Autism Program (D-CAP) also will be asked to act as peer mentors.
Look below to view a video about the HYPE Program.
To be eligible for HYPE, students must:
Have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
Attend classes independently (do not require 1:1 assistance)
Be on track to attend a two- or four-year higher education institution to pursue a degree
HYPE School Year Program (Pilot Fall 2021)
Participants: Junior and senior high school students. Note: Year 1 of HYPE is only open to high school juniors. You must enter HYPE at the onset of your junior year.
Location: SPARC, located at 1160 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19383
Duration:
Students: Two hours, one night a week throughout the school year program. Note: The program will run on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Parents: Two hours, one time a month throughout the school year program
Goal: To provide students with ASD meaningful educational activities and supports, enabling them to maximize their independence and help them become prepared for university life.
Student Objectives of Two-Year Program
Increase self-determination abilities
Enhance communication, social and problem-solving skills
Improve management and organization of time, as well as materials related to school or work
Augment skills related to independent living (e.g., money management, weekly schedule planning, meal planning/preparation, cleaning and organizing living areas, laundry, self-care)
Increase skills related to community integration and the ability to live with roommates in a dormitory/apartment setting
Help individuals prepare for post-secondary education and employment
Develop routines that increase health and safety (e.g., healthy eating habits, exercise, hygiene, managing medical appointments)
Parent Objectives of Two-Year Program
Increase knowledge of post-secondary education laws
Prepare and promote strategies for parental change of role as student turns 18 and increases independence
Improve communication skills between parent and student
Provide support for various emotions associated with these transitions
HYPE Summer 1 (Pilot Summer 2022)
Participants: HYPE students who have completed School Year 1 program at SPARC
Location: West Chester University
Duration: 10 days (five days, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with immediate debrief; five days, four nights, Monday-Friday overnight).
Goal: To prepare students with ASD for college life by providing them with an on-campus experience, generalizing the acquired skills from the HYPE school program.
Objectives
Experience campus life, commuter style and residential style
Access dining hall options
Generalize skills acquired in the HYPE school program (e.g., self-determination, social, time management, independence, community integration, safety, problem-solving, communication)
Acquire information and experiences with campus services, including: health and wellness, psychological and counseling, OSSD, trans and queer advocacy, D-CAP and LARC
Tour and experience various on-campus facilities, including the recreational center, library, student union, bookstore, dining halls, residential buildings and academic buildings
Participate in a variety of classroom/activity formats (e.g., lecture, lab, studio, structured, unstructured)
Acquire, practice and/or generalize college classroom etiquette and communication skills
Create and deliver a presentation on experience, as well as skills acquired and needed to transition to college
Learn the difference between entitlement and eligibility (IDEA versus ADA) for high school to higher education
HYPE Summer 1 (Pilot Summer 2023)
Participants: HYPE students who have completed School Year 2 program at SPARC and graduated high school (age 18+)
Location: West Chester University
Duration: 11 days (overnight), Monday- the following Thursday, Friday is a debriefing day
Goal: To prepare students with ASD for college life by providing them with an on-campus experience, generalizing the acquired skills from the HYPE school program.
Objectives
Experience campus life, residential style
Generalize skills acquired in the HYPE school program (e.g., self-determination, social, time management, independence, community integration, safety, problem-solving, communication)
Attend workshops via campus resources to acquire/review skills in the areas of resiliency, stress management, studying, budgeting, self-advocacy and classroom etiquette
Participate in activities and workshops to learn more about majors-to-careers, employment opportunities, volunteer experiences and early start programs
Identify, locate and receive information on various campus resources, including the career development center, writing center, tutoring, public safety, counseling and LGBTQ
Develop a schedule that includes time set aside each day for activities, such as meals, self-care/ downtime and transitions from one activity to the next
Create a schedule that incorporates time for group projects or meetups with individuals with various schedules
Create and deliver a presentation on experience and skills acquired and needed for the transition to college
Practice skills for problem-solving and self- advocacy via scenarios associated with entitlement versus eligibility (IDEA versus ADA) for high school to higher education
