$2.5M grant continues college program for intellectually disabled

An education program at Bergen Community College for adults with intellectual disabilities will receive funding for another five years, officials announced Monday.

PARAMUS -- An education program at Bergen Community College for adults with intellectual disabilities will receive funding for another five years, officials announced Monday.

Bergen Community College received a grant worth up to $2.5 million for its "Turning Point" program.

The program, for 18- to 30-year-olds with intellectual disabilities, teaches vocational, social and life skills over a two-year period. The college partners with employers to place graduates at jobs.

Turning allows young adults with intellectual disabilities to continue their education. Many run out of options once they reach adulthood, Bergen Community College President B. Kaye Walter said.

"When students with disabilities finish out our technical schools they have no place else to go," she said.

Melanie Weisberg, an advocate and mother to a 24-year-old son with intellectual disabilities, said many parents run out of options once their children with intellectual disabilities become adults.

"Some of the young adults unfortunately stay home," she said.

The college has received the grant's first installment of $499,449, with the rest contingent on meeting the grant's goals. Bergen Community College has established a fund to help grow the program beyond the 10 to 15 students per year it currently serves.

Sen. Bob Menendez spoke at the college Monday to announce the grant.

"We want to give every student of Bergen County, and the country, the opportunity to go to the max of what they can do personally."

Bergen Community launched Turning Point in 2010 after receiving another $2.3 million federal grant. Over its first five years about 100 students have enrolled.

Turning Point students took part for the first time this year in the college's commencement ceremonies. Students receive certificates of achievement upon completing the program. Walter said the students are part of the college community, with many working campus jobs.

"We intend not only to continue to ask for grants to grow the program, but we're working with our foundation to establish and grow a fund so it can continue," she said.