UMID Awarded $1.86 Million to Expand Inclusive Higher Education 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Institute on Disability (UMID) has been awarded a five-year, $1.86 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. 

The BRIDGE Innovate: Building Resources for those with Intellectual Disabilities towards Gainful Employment initiative will enhance the University’s current TigerLIFE program and explore the development of a second Inclusive Higher Education site at the UofM Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tennessee. 

“This five-year grant allows us to extend our scope of service and research beyond Memphis,” said Dr. Chrisann Schiro-Geist, executive director of UMID. “Since 2013, our TigerLIFE program has provided a strong model for Inclusive Higher Education. Through BRIDGE Innovate, we can translate that model into a portable framework that strengthens the national and even international movement for inclusive learning and employment.” 

Over the course of the project, the UMID team plans to expand available credentials for students, launch a residential pilot program, and develop a comprehensive replication toolkit to help other institutions build inclusive postsecondary programs. The initiative will also strengthen partnerships with Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation, Memphis-Shelby County Schools and other agencies to improve long-term employment outcomes for program participants. 

Funded through the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) program, this award underscores the University of Memphis’ continued leadership in inclusive higher education and workforce development for neurodiverse learners.