Page 20 - PGA Community News- July '24

Page 20, PGA C.A.N.! July 2024 July 2024
Florida Atlantic University

Academy For Community Inclusion Celebrates

Program’s Milestone 50th And 51st Graduates

Program provides students who have intellectual Dr. Mike Brady, who
and developmental disabilities with an enriching and was a dedicated faculty
authentic college experience. member and chair for
Two very special students who have autism walked the Department of
across the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) graduation Special Education in the
stage during spring commencement, marking a milestone College of Education,
for the Florida Atlantic University Academy for until his passing in 2021.
Community Inclusion (ACI), a college program for Rangasamy Ramasamy,
high school graduates who have been diagnosed with Ph.D., a professor in the
intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Department of Special
Down syndrome and autism. Education at FAU,
Whitney Wiley and Michael R. Johnson, both presented Dr. Brady’s
Wellington residents, received certificates from the FAU partner, Dawn Furlan, FAU ACI student Lily Doyle and
Academy for Community Inclusion as the program’s 50th with the Crystal Owl her mother Katherine Trusky
and 51st graduates. They were celebrated during a brunch Award for his dedication
on FAU’s MacArthur Campus in Jupiter during graduation to those who experience disabilities and his generosity
weekend. Friends, family, ACI students and alumni, in supporting this legacy project through his estate plans.
FAU staff and community partners attended. Two ACI FAU ACI Class of 2024 graduate Whitney Wiley; Kelly Kearney, To learn more about the FAU Academy for Community
students, Chloe Thibault and Holden Kasky, emceed the Ed.D., BCBA-D, associate director of FAU’s Academy for Inclusion, visit fau.edu/education/academicdepartments/
event. Holden’s father, Jeff Kasky, gave a poignant speech Community Inclusion in the Department of Special Education; ese/aci/ and you can click GIVE to make a donation.
highlighting the positive impact ACI has on students and FAU ACI students Chloe Thibault and Holden Kasky Photos by Coastal Click Photography
their families.
“The ACI program is an important part of the to participate in college activities, clubs, events
community. Knowing that there are 51 graduates who have and organizations that are available to all FAU
an intellectual or developmental disability who are working students. ACI also offers a residential experience
right next to any other employee is something that makes program each summer, when students get to
Palm Beach, Broward and Martin Counties special and that spend one week living in the dorms on the Boca
should be celebrated,” said Kelly Kearney, Ed.D., BCBA-D, Raton campus.
associate director of FAU’s Academy for Community The mission of ACI is to increase
Inclusion in the Department of Special Education. “Having overall independence in employment, self-
our graduates find a rewarding job and becoming self-reliant determination and community experiences for
is our ultimate goal and we are so proud of Whitney and individuals with intellectual and developmental
Michael who are pursuing their dreams.” disabilities. Through a generous partnership
This polo season, Wiley worked at the National Polo with longtime benefactors the Taft Foundation, Dawn Furlan and Rangasamy
Center in Wellington handing out event programs and ACI was developed and launched in 2017. The Ramasamy, Ph.D., professor,
enjoyed watching the end of the matches. The 25-year-old partnership was due to the vision and strong FAU ACI student Holden Kasky Department of Special Education
hopes to find a new job that involves horses and even rides advocacy of founding ACI Principal Investigator with his father Jeff Kasky at FAU
them weekly at Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center
in Loxahatchee.
“I was so excited because I made it!” she said of
graduating. “It was a really big accomplishment for me.
I was so happy to wear a cap and gown. I learned how to
get around the community, be safe and stay safe, health
and fitness, and social skills.”
Johnson, who owns a food truck with his dad, said
that the ACI program helped him become a better
business owner and entrepreneur. “I learned about money,
employment and how to do paperwork,” he added.
ACI allows students to earn certificates in supported
employment, supported community access and supported
community living. These certificates are offered in an
inclusive college environment on both the Boca Raton and
Jupiter campuses of FAU. The program allows students

FAU ACI Class of 2024 graduates Michael Johnson and
Whitney Wiley with FAU’s mascot Owlsley

Dr. Angelica Downey, Department of Special Education at
FAU; FAU ACI Class of 2024 graduate Whitney Wiley and Dr.
Gwendolyn Carey, Department of Special Education at FAU