SpEd and TPYA Students Create Ability Garden at Watson

On September 19, students in Watson’s Special Education program partnered with students in the New Hanover County Schools’ Transition Works! (TPYA) program and staff of The Ability Garden of the NHC Arboretum-NC Cooperative Extension to create an Ability Garden at the Watson College. The students will participate in weekly activity-based learning classes at the garden throughout the academic year.

“Green thumbs abound at the Watson garden!” said Special Educator Laura Rosser. “We are very excited about this new project. Our students are building real-world work skills, and the future special education teachers enrolled in Jim Stocker’s SED 374 course are learning to implement ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) strategies while serving as learning partners for our students. We are very fortunate to have the expertise of the amazing staff of The Ability Garden as this project gets underway. It’s win-win evidenced-based learning practice for all!”

Rosser is the primary coordinator of the Watson garden project. Together with Christine Koch, she coordinates the Transition Works! Transition Program for Young Adults (TPYA) located in the Education building on the UNCW campus. The program, a partnership with New Hanover County Schools, uses a “Community Classroom” concept to help 18-21 year-olds with special needs learn the skills necessary to make a seamless transition from school to community and adult life. Seventeen students are currently participating in the TPYA program located at the Watson College.

“The TPYA program is an invaluable component of our Special Education program,” said Associate Professor James Stocker, coordinator of WCE’s undergraduate program in special education. “Having a TPYA classroom at Watson enables our students to have rich field experiences here on campus, as well as the opportunity to mentor their same-age peers. The Ability Garden is a wonderful enhancement that gives our students an opportunity to apply best teaching practices as they work together with TPYA students to plant seeds, water and transplant plants, and enjoy the gardens they create.”

The Ability Garden located at the New Hanover County Arboretum, features garden-based programs for people with disabilities. Their mission is to empower the under-served through gardening, education, inclusion and community engagement. The Ability Garden staff provides consultation services to organizations interested in establishing gardens with a focus on both the accessibility and sustainability of each site to create greater opportunities for successful, inclusive gardens.

About Watson’s Special Education Program

The Watson College offers two special education program concentrations: Special Education: General Curriculum, which prepares educators to teach individuals with mild to moderate disabilities or Special Education: Adapted Curriculum, which prepares educators to teach learners with significant intellectual and multiple disabilities.

The programs feature small class sizes and dedicated special education faculty with extensive teaching experience, and are offered in a cohort model, designed to provide a strong community of support for undergraduate students majoring in special education. Students move through the program together, sharing academic, enrichment and field experience opportunities.

For more information, visit the Special Education website.