Kaley Wilcox arrived at PSU excited to study theater and the arts. “All I wanted to do was theater stuff,” she says. But with encouragement and support from faculty and advisors, Wilcox slowly began branching out. She took classes in subjects like philosophy and oceanography that she’d never imagined trying.
Now, the once singularly focused Wilcox is encouraging other students to step outside their comfort zones. “Make sure you take stuff that you love, but also take some challenging stuff because you may take something from it,” she advises.
Wilcox will graduate from PSU this June, with a certificate from the Career and Community Studies program (CCS) in the College of Education. The four-year pre-baccalaureate, non-degree program is designed for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
CCS students are able to have an inclusive college experience with individualized support for academics, employment and student life. It’s the only postsecondary program of its kind in Oregon, and Wilcox was grateful to learn about it through support staff at Cleveland High School as she was nearing her high school graduation.
Wilcox lives at home with her parents, close to the PSU campus. She was excited about the program because she’d have help signing up for classes, modifying her academic assignments, navigating social experiences and finding a job, among other things.
The CSS program also gave Wilcox the support and encouragement to try new things. “I've been taking the opportunity to take classes that I love and also to challenge myself to take classes I didn't think I would actually take,” she says.
Through courses like philosophy she’s learned critical thinking skills. Her communications skills have improved during her time at PSU as well, she says. But most of all, Wilcox loves to be hands-on and reports that theater, art and dance classes have been her favorites.
Kerry Wright, a CCS advisor, explains that in addition to academics and campus life, career counseling is another important tool they have to broaden student experiences and opportunities. The goal being to help students secure long-term, career-focused employment.
“We do a lot of assessments with the students to discover what they enjoy, what they're good at, and then we narrow it down to a career field that they would enjoy,” Wright says.
For Wilcox, this discovery process led her to the Sniff Dog Hotel – a boutique dog hotel in downtown Portland, with overnight boarding, daycare, grooming, training and more. Through job shadowing, she was able to get a sense of what it might be like to work there.
“I got to experience firsthand what they do and just see if they actually liked me, which they actually did,” she says.
Wilcox was hired the summer before her sophomore year at PSU. She loves her job and has been working two five-hour shifts per week for the last three years.
“We do lots of things,” says Wilcox of her duties at Sniff Dog Hotel. “We watch dogs in groups to make sure that they behave themselves and have fun. Also for dogs that are just private and don't like other dogs, we hang out with them one on one.”
Many people have supported Wilcox on her journey in higher education. “Too many to name,” she says. Top of the list, though, is her family who have been there for her and have assisted with some of the tough decisions along the way.
Her CCS advisors helped her register for classes, regularly checked in to see how classes and work were going, reviewed emails, schedules and finances with her, and more, while her academic coach helped her get through some of the more challenging classes.
“Kaley has blossomed in the program over the past four years,” says Mary Morningstar, professor in the Department of Special Education and CCS program director. “She has taken several theater related courses including costume design and acting classes as well as joining the Stage Club.”
Morningstar notes that Wilcox has also expanded her academic experiences with some pretty complex courses. And then, of course, there’s the real world experience she gained working at Sniff Dog Hotel.
“She loves working with dogs and aspires to be a dog trainer or vet tech. We know she will be graduating into a positive future,” Morningstar says.
After graduation, Wilcox looks forward to a break from school. She loved her time at PSU and, reflecting back, is proud of all she’s accomplished and excited about the possibilities for her future thanks to the range of experience she’s gained. Her immediate plans include increasing her work hours to spend more time with her canine friends at Sniff Dog Hotel and possibly joining a community theater.