In the kitchen of the Orlean Beeson Building, one student measures scoops of Folger’s coffee into coffee filters, while another student puts stickers on coffee cups, while yet another student wipes down the coffee cart. All these students are assisted by caring staff and Samford students, to measure correctly, and make sure all the spots on the cart are clean.
These students are following their usual Wednesday morning routine. They are getting ready for Bulldog Brew, when they pass out free coffee to students walking by Seibert Hall. Outside, some students serve the coffee, while others hold signs advertising the cart.
The students are all a part of the Turning Points program, a transition program for students ages 18-21 with intellectual disabilities. It seeks to help students develop personal and social communication, and independent, employment and recreation skills.
Wendy Betsch has been a part of the Turning Points program since it was begun in 2011 and now leads the program.
“Our goal is when they leave us, they all have a job and they are as ready as they can be to live on their own,” Betsch said. “We also prepare and help the student supply that want to go on to the next college program.”
The staff spends a few mornings a week doing various on-campus jobs, from doing laundry for athletics, to the weekly coffee cart, to even working with some of Samford’s other departments, like the education and physical therapy departments.
In the afternoons, the staff and students participate in various physical education, using the new Seibert Gym, as well as Samford’s quad.
“We do a lot of P.E. that’s for life, you know,” Wendy said. “Things that you would take from this program and do in real life, like corn hole if you’re tailgating or, you know, pickleball, things that they can hopefully leave here with skills to do later in life.”
The last hour of the day is an academic hour, teaching classes on life skills, social skills and work skills.
Ian Viner, a junior finance major, first got involved with Turning Points through the cadre during his freshman year, but now just volunteers during the week, to assist and spend time with the students.
Viner spoke of his favorite part of volunteering with Turning Points.
“I mean, it’s just fun. I mean, it’s like just friends,” he said. “You know like, you just go out and hang out with friends on Wednesday morning.”
Betsch desires to see more departments get involved with Turning Points and provide more opportunities in different areas of campus.
Samford students can join the Turning Points cadre that is held every semester, and both students and faculty can reach Wendy Betsch at betschw@mtnbrook.k12.al.us and at (205) 222-6532 for more information about getting involved or partnering with the program.
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