Circle of Friends, a pilot program that provides integrated living and non-credit college learning experiences for young women with developmental disabilities, will end after this semester.
The program started more than seven years ago and was funded by a private donor as well as a donors’ foundation. The funds will be exhausted by the end of this fiscal year, according to Sr. Bernadette Duross, co-chair of the Circle of Friends Advisory Committee.
Duross said fundraising efforts for the program have not been successful. “I think it’s because of the economic downturn, too,” she said.
Duross sees this end as an opportunity to celebrate the success of the women in the program and “the fact that we’ve been a pioneer of this piloted program and can share it with others.”
Duross commends the efforts of Linda Ross, director of the program, and her staff.
“Linda has assured the families of the women that she will continue to help them,” she said. “Any kind of change or transition is difficult.”
The program is capable of housing four women a year. This year there are two women currently enrolled in the program.
“It was a hard decision-making process,” said Duross. “This is a part of Misericordia’s legacy.”
Look for the full story in the next edition of the Highlander on stands March 30th .
Editor's Note: The Highlander would like to clarify. There were three women in the program at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, but currently there are two women still enrolled in the program.
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