The 5th Annual RCPD BOND Friendsgiving event took place on November 18, 2022, bringing together a tasty Thanksgiving meal, fun, friendship, and connection.
The Michigan State University Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) demonstrates leadership through providing students, faculty, and guests with the latest disability technology, resources, and services through its implementation of Signature Programs. These programs, made possible with the support of dedicated staff, generous donors and committed volunteers, exemplify the RCPD’s mission to maximize ability and opportunity for students, faculty and staff.
The Bosco MSU-MRS Careers Collaborative is a program that supports MSU students with disabilities seeking high-quality internships and employment opportunities, career exploration through labor market analysis, resume development, interview readiness, professional etiquette, and the improvement of academic-life to work-life transitions.
When MSU transitioned to online learning in the spring of 2020, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) sought to create an experience to virtually build a supportive community for students with psychiatric disabilities. Shelby Gombosi and Lindsay Hill, RCPD’s Ability Access Specialists, answered the call and created the Community Groups program, an opportunity for students to connect with other RCPD-registered students and stimulate conversations regarding the prevailing issues affecting their daily lives.
The Spartan experience is unique to every individual. Celebrating Homecoming, strolls past Beaumont Tower, and the endless late-night studying all can result in lasting memories, but for most people, the most lasting memory of all is Commencement Day. This year’s unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift in how graduation was handled, but even so, Jenna Kesh, a recent MSU Alumna, found that her time at RCPD was the most memorable piece of her Spartan experience.
For many MSU students with disabilities, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique set of challenges. Whether that be the enforcement of social distancing or regulated stay-at-home orders, the lives of our Spartans have changed, causing students to embark upon remote learning. For many people, face-to-face interactions create impactful and engaging social encounters that help them thrive on campus, and for some RCPD students, extra guidance beyond the academic and social support available at home has made all the difference.
When seventeen students and their families arrived at Armstrong hall on a Sunday afternoon in June, the air was full of excitement and a little uncertainty. After all, some of them had never been away from home before.
If you’ve ever watched or participated in a 5K, you know how much hard work goes into crossing the finish line. Now imagine running that same race but without food or water all day. On May 18th, 113 runners in Canton, Michigan did just that at the Fasting 5K – to raise money for students with disabilities.
Complete with rocks, acorns, and leaves, this intriguing piece of decor includes the names of the donors who have made a significant impact on the lives of RCPD students, staff, and operations.
Dan Gilbert, CEO of Quicken Loans, and his wife, Jennifer Gilbert, donated $15 million to MSU in October of 2016. A portion of the gift contributes to the RCPD's growth and mission on campus.
The RCPD celebrated their 44th Annual Awards and Appreciation Reception on April 22nd, 2016. The event highlighted exceptional Spartan students and community members.
Following the missions of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the BOND program maximizes ability and opportunity for students on the autism spectrum.
This summer, the RCPD hosted their third annual Venture Program, accommodating nearly 20 high school students with disabilities. Read the full blog article to view the Venture 2013 recap video, featuring interviews from participants.
The Wocholz Endowment will help RCPD sponsor two exciting events this summer: The Kiwanis Club BBQ and the World Dwarf Games. RCPD is grateful to the Wocholz family for this great opportunity to spread awareness through sponsorship of these events.
Since it began in 2010, the BOND program has allowed students with Autism Spectrum Disorders to meet other students, engage in a variety of activities and trips, and make important connections throughout MSU. Learn how you can join BOND today!
