Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management
First Advisor
Cade Smith
Second Advisor
Victoria Laing
Third Advisor
Stacey Reycraft
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The University of Mississippi is currently one of the few SEC schools that does not offer an inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). An initiative to bring inclusive higher education to Ole Miss began as a passion project led by Honors College student Bailey Beaird and continued through 2024. Bailey worked diligently to research and design a model for implementing a four-year inclusive higher education program (IHEP). Ultimately, the decision was made by the administration to postpone advancement of a four-year program due to limited campus resources and concerns surrounding long-term sustainability. Instead, the Chancellor's office recommended the development of a pilot program to establish a strong foundation. This is exactly what the READY program aims to fill. From the beginning, Bailey Beaird’s mission has been to create a program that fosters academic success, equips students for meaningful employment, develops interpersonal skills, and encourages active community engagement. The READY program has been thoughtfully developed over the past two years through extensive planning and collaboration with multiple campus departments. I am proud to share that the READY program will launch its first summer residential experience from June 28th through July 24th, 2026. During this four-week program, READY students will live on campus with a roommate, attend University of Mississippi
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courses, participate in program-specific classes focused on social development, budgeting, and healthy relationships, and fully engage in college life as typical students. The main goals of the READY pilot program are to promote independent living skills, increase academic engagement, build meaningful peer relationships, and prepare students for future employment opportunities. Successors of this initiative are encouraged to continue advocating for the development of a full four-year IHEP at our institution and to support READY’s growth into a sustainable, comprehensive program that expands access, fosters inclusion, and transforms the college experience for students with I/DDs.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Emily R., "READY: Piloting an Inclusive Higher Education Program for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Mississippi" (2026). Honors Theses. 3482.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3482
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Included in
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