Project Focus 2018

For the last eight years, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been fully included at the University of Arizona through Project FOCUS, a two-year innovative transition program supported by the College of Education, Pima County Public School Districts and contributions from advocates like you.

Project FOCUS has provided an opportunity for 65 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to:

• Access inclusive college classes
• Increase their employability skills through 48 on and off campus internship locations 
• Develop social networks and create the opportunity for lifelong friendships
• Train 92 peer mentors in instructional best practices for inclusion

Project FOCUS is dedicated to closing the gap between individuals with and without intellectual disabilities by graduating students who are self-determined and better prepared to live their own lives.

Project FOCUS needs your support so we can provide:

• Scholarships to cover partial tuition. 
• Salaries for lead peer mentors. Peer mentors start as interns earning credit and after two semesters of internship training they have the opportunity to become paid staff. Lead peer mentors support the new peer mentor interns and take on enhanced assignments.  
• Community based internships and salaries for job coaches.
• City Bus passes so peer mentors can support students in independent travel.
• Costs related to social activities such as tickets and entry fees for peer mentors to attend on campus events with students for the full UA experience.                            

We have six new students starting in August and we will train and supervise forty UA undergraduate peer mentors for the Fall 2019 semester. Please help us give these students the tools and support they need by making a gift today!

To learn more about Project FOCUS, visit http://www.projectfocus.arizona.edu.