October 24, 2024 By CDHD ECLIPSE: competitive integrated employment for Idaho campuses We’re pleased to announce a new collaboration with the University of Idaho College of Education, Health and Human Sciences – ECLIPSE. ECLIPSE stands for Employment Capacity Leveraged through Inclusive Post-Secondary Education, and it’s funded by a recent $7.8 million grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the US Department of Education. This new initiative will focus on providing competitive integrated employment opportunities for college-aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Idaho. The aim is threefold: increase the quantity and quality of on-campus internship opportunities improve student skill training increase campus and community awareness. ECLIPSE will advance training for students with disabilities in Idaho by providing even more opportunities to learn alongside their peers on college campuses. It will also focus on providing instruction to increase capacity for finding and maintaining employment. Andrew Scheef, the lead on ECLIPSE, said “ECLIPSE is a game changer for Idaho’s inclusive post-secondary education programs. The improved employment services will strengthen program offerings for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. These programs have been shown time and time again to increase opportunities for students to find and maintain employment in integrated settings.” The grant includes funding for a statewide coordinator who will oversee existing competitive integrated employment specialists at the University of Idaho Vandal QUEST program, Boise State PEERS program and Lewis-Clark College SPARC (PDF) program. ECLIPSE will also be able to recruit two more higher education institutions in Idaho interested in developing similar programs. Funding is available for peer job coaches, an annual statewide competitive integrated employment conference and paid opportunities for college students interested in mentoring high school students with disabilities. “Competitive integrated employment benefits everyone by enriching workplaces, supporting the local economy, and empowering Idahoans with disabilities,” Scheef said. “Really, everyone benefits when people with disabilities are better prepared to find and maintain employment,” Andy said. “Vandal QUEST provides fantastic opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but funds from this grant will vastly improve the employment services.” ECLIPSE further develops the University of Idaho and CDHD as leaders in competitive integrated employment training. With the existing Vandal QUEST program, ICIE Center and events such as Tools for Life, we are dedicated to creating and maintaining meaningful opportunities for young adults with disabilities to thrive after high school. Watch this space as more updates about ECLIPSE become available. We’re looking forward to further ensuring that all students have the resources and skills they need to live, learn, work and play in their communities.