MAICEI - Massasoit Community College

The Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) at Massasoit Community College is a program designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities that enables them to acquire a college experience. It is a unique partnership between colleges and high schools, funded via Massachusetts legislative grants and monitored by the Department of Higher Education. The term, “Concurrent Enrollment” means that participating students are still eligible for special education services, even though they have finished four years of high school. As such, they are concurrently enrolled in college while still being eligible for special education services in their local school district.

Participants include:

Students ages 18-22 who have not passed the MCAS exam because of the severity of their intellectual disabilities, and continue to be eligible for Special Education services in their districts as documented through an Individualized Education Program (IEP); or,
Students with intellectual disabilities who have passed MCAS with great difficulty, but are still eligible for Special Education with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) because of significant functional disabilities, transition needs, etc.

Goals of the MAICEI Program

To provide inclusive opportunities and access to post-secondary education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities from partner school districts.
To provide students with an opportunity to enroll in courses, alongside non-disabled peers, that align with their transition goals.
To increase social skills and social opportunities through access of all campus clubs and activities.
To develop work skills to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for individuals with a disability.
To establish linkages with adult service agencies for attainment of transition goals.
To increase self-determination and self-advocacy skills.
To increase personal independence in academic, personal, social, and employment arenas.
To improve student’s skills in the areas of scheduling, organization, and personal responsibility.
To provide a unique and invaluable opportunity for personal growth for transition to adulthood.

Principal Components of the Program

Person Centered Planning: a process designed to help students develop a vision for their life and what supports they might need to achieve their goals
Educational Coach: supports the student with academic needs, fosters self-determination and self-advocacy, helps with campus schedules and navigation, and more. (Provided by sending district.)
College course: enrollment in a college class which aligns with student interests or goals.
Peer mentoring: provides an opportunity for MAICEI students to engage with non-disabled peers to become more involved in the life of the campus.
On-campus internships: are aligned with student interests to give them expanded opportunities to improve employment skills. Career planning and job skill improvement is emphasized.
Meetings with MAICEI staff: to ensure that the student is attaining his/her goals.
Transition topic seminars: informal classes to increase student awareness and skills in academic, life skills, and vocational areas.