Transitions, a premier program focused on building academic skills, life skills and general independence for high school graduates and young adults with autism and other learning differences, announced the extension of its successful program to enrolled students at SUNY Cobleskill.
A ribbon cutting was held at the newly dedicated classroom on the College’s Schoharie County campus Tuesday, August 9 to welcome Transitions students. Beginning in the Fall 2022 semester, trained staff will be on-site daily teaching and guiding students toward a life of independence, including residential support.
“We are grateful to SUNY Cobleskill for partnering with Transitions to bring our life-changing program to young adults with autism and other learning differences right here in the Mohawk Valley,” said Transitions’ Founder, Shaloni Winston. “For these students, their ‘next big step’ after high school graduation is sometimes nonexistent. The supports they received throughout their 13 years in school do not follow them into college or the workplace. Transitions, however, can bridge the gap and prepare these students to live the life they never dreamed possible. Through this partnership, we will watch with excitement as these students transform into the incredible individuals they were meant to become.”
Students will be taught life skills, such as learning to navigate the SUNY Cobleskill campus and how to communicate with professors; academic skills, including time management, organization and wellness; and career skills, like learning how to apply and manage an internship.
“Today is a testament to living our vision, as we call all learners to direct their own thinking, their own wanting and their own doing. Partnering with Transitions extends the SUNY Cobleskill vision by inviting eager learners to continue their journey and to experience the power of learning individually, guided by faculty dedicated to empowering their growth,” said Dr. Marion Terenzio, president of SUNY Cobleskill. “Transitions has already instilled in these students the appreciation for a quality education and the capacity to grow and take ownership of their future. The joining together in this partnership is a natural progression to foster further exploration and access to experiences that lead to independence and a fulfilling life. I am so grateful for this partnership, and I cannot wait to see our Transitions students on campus this Fall.”
“To have the opportunity to work with individuals with disabilities and see them attend college successfully has really been a dream come true,” said Wendi Richards, interim director of AccessABILITY Resources & Transition at SUNY Cobleskill. “We have wanted to bring a program to campus very similar to what Transitions is already doing, one that creates new bridges of support for our students. Transitions is the best at what they do, so partnering with them represents a wonderful new step for SUNY Cobleskill in ensuring an equitable and viable future for all learners.”
A full livestream of the press announcement can be found here.
About Transitions
Transitions is a program of the Arc Lexington that prepares teens and young adults with autism and learning differences for college, careers and life. This demographic often needs extra preparation before living independently and achieving success in higher education and careers. Transitions developed a curriculum crafted from evidence-based programs and grounded in internationally recognized approaches to set students on the path toward success. The Transitions curriculum and learning environments are specially tailored to give all students equal opportunities to learn and thrive. To learn more, visit or call (518) 518-775-5384, www.transitionsusa.org or email admissions@transitionsusa.org.
