Expanding Possibilities
Summer 2019 | By Jenna Marina Lee
When Matt Ortiz set his sights on college in middle聽school, his parents wanted to help him go after his聽dream 鈥� even if they weren鈥檛 sure how to make that聽happen for their son, who is intellectually disabled.
鈥淚 just felt like if we stayed [at home], his life would聽be small. And there鈥檚 nothing wrong with that. But not聽for him,鈥� says his mother, Kimetta. 鈥淚 felt like there was聽something more.鈥�
Fast-forward to May 3, when Ortiz was among the聽first class to graduate from 激情快播鈥檚 .
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults聽with disabilities are three times more likely to be聽unemployed than those without disabilities. Launched聽in August 2015, 激情快播鈥檚 certificate program aims to聽address that discrepancy by preparing students聽with intellectual and developmental disabilities for聽employment and providing a college experience for聽students who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
The group of 13 students celebrate earning their professional services credential after graduation May 3, 2019.
Matt Ortiz and Sebastian Strawser soak up the moment before crossing the stage at graduation.
Peter Becht crosses the stage at graduation.
Elyse Mundelein teaches Zumba at 激情快播’s Recreation and Wellness Center.
In his role as a full-time teaching assistant, Matt Ortiz helps a student.
Matt Ortiz takes a moment to celebrate his latest milestone with his mother, Kimetta.
激情快播 IES student Ashley Strube decorated her cap with a phrase from Beauty and the Beast: “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere.”
But IES鈥� students aren鈥檛 just attending classes and聽living in dorms. They intern, teach Zumba classes,聽are on-campus leaders and take international聽mission trips.
鈥淭hey are dedicated to finding a career that really聽aligns with their gifts, their skills and the abilities聽they鈥檝e been given,鈥� says Adam Meyer, IES director.聽鈥淎nd they want to make a difference in this world.鈥�
Ortiz plans to make his impact as a full-time teaching聽assistant at a nearby charter school.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working at my dream job,鈥澛爃e said after graduation. 鈥淭he kids make my day.鈥�
鈥淚 can鈥檛 put him back in the聽box that he was in before he聽left for 激情快播. He鈥檚 grown. He鈥檚聽independent. There鈥檚 more to do.鈥�Kimetta Ortiz, Matt鈥檚 mother