The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1 - 181

The Illinois Model

sition to a high-achieving university. The
journey for the student includes being independent from the physical care and support
of the family. The journey for the parent/
guardian includes having less control and allowing their student to learn how to manage
their disability independently, including
making mistakes.
The newest mentoring program is geared
toward high school students with severe physical disabilities. After visiting with prospective
students and meeting with high school guidance counselors, BRSS staff identified an
unmet need for students who were unique
within their high schools (i.e., high level of
academic achievement and a severe physical disability). Because this is not a high incidence group, many professionals and families
do not know how to support these students.
This mentoring program uses current BRSS
residents to mentor high school students nationally regarding effective preparation and
reasonable expectations for living away from
family and being a college student. The personal assistant, management, and mentoring
programs work collaboratively in supporting
new and continuing BRSS residents.

BECKWITH RESIDENTIAL
SUPPORT SERVICES OUTCOMES
Beckwith has served 203 students since its
inception in 1981. With regard to the broader
impact of the types of support and services
offered by Beckwith, researchers have found
that individuals who need assistance in performing the activities of daily life are substantially more likely to be unemployed than are
their cohorts with less severe disabilities or
no impairments (Kennedy, LaPlante, & Kaye,

1997). People with disabilities who need assistance in the performance of daily activities
reported being unable to work nearly 10 times
as often as persons with disabilities who do
not need this assistance (Kaye, 2003). BRSS
has supported the matriculation, retention,
graduation, and employment of students with
severe disabilities. Data collection regarding
Beckwith resident graduation rates and oneyear post-graduation outcomes began in 1994.
These data indicate that, within one year of
graduation from Illinois, 87.5% of Beckwith
residents were either employed or attending
a graduate or professional preparation degree
program. According to 2005 U.S. census data,
the employment rate was 30.7% for people
with a severe disability, compared with rates of
75.2% for people with a non-severe disability
and 83.5% for people with no disability (Brault,
2008). Due to the low number of residents
who graduate each year, the Beckwith graduation rate of 87% is based on all students who
entered the program and graduated since 1994

. . . within one year of
graduation from Illinois, 87.5%
of Beckwith residents were
either employed or attending
a graduate or professional
preparation degree program.

(University of Illinois, 2011d). The University
of Illinois’ graduation rate of full-time students
who entered in 2005 was 82.4% (University of
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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1