UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education

We're ready when you are! Meet fall semester's UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education OIPE coaches. Choosing to do their internships with us this fall 2026 with the , these individuals are majoring in social work, counseling and education. We even have grad students in the mix. But wait, there's more! All students in the Succeed, Plus, and Link programs should also look forwards to weekly 1-on-1 tutoring with a different group of interns. We even have academic mentors who can offer guidance throughout each student's exploration of college courses at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Visuals: Photos of male and female OIPE interns during orientation day

Came across a post on one of the FB groups that we follow: "Autism mom struggling at the moment. Any kind words appreciated." It was simple yet profound at the same time.

Being a parent or caregiver is not for the faint of heart. The sentiment we shared with her went something like this:

You already did the hardest part. You chose to carry this little "stranger" in your womb for months, not knowing their personality, behavior, or even how they will react to meeting and being held by you for the first time. You had yet to see their face, yet you already professed, "I love you," to the little nugget in your womb before they were born.

Dr. Spock and all those experts can write bestselling how-to guidebooks, but you and your little one are the true authors of your child's book. You are both learning what works and what doesn't. And learning from each other is a continuous process. It doesn't end when your child turns 18 or 21 or 45 years old.

As you know, the learning curve comes with its challenges and victories. The strategy for calming your child today, may not necessarily work an hour later. The 15 minutes of tranquility you miraculously enjoyed may dissolve 30 seconds hence. Crying, venting, and even cursing silently in your head is totally understandable. Picturing an escape hatch from the world? We get that. Not giving up despite the kicks, bites, and meltdowns-- we support that. Again, parenting isn't for the faint of heart.

What we loved about that post was the parent's courage and vulnerability to admit feeling weak and uncertain, and more importantly, her call for support in whatever form. That is a marquee pointing to a remarkable parent. A parent who is acknowledging that they are still learning, and that today happens to be one of those tough days. We know in our gut that she will endure. She is not of the faint of heart.

That post received nearly 130 comments from moms, dads, and other caregivers who can relate to her story. Some rallied, "Hang in there," and others admitted, "I'm feeling the same way right now." It was impossible not to feel emotional by this point. Some parents suggested finding someone who can watch the mom's child for a bit so that she could decompress. Our contribution was to suggest she find a local group of parents and caregivers, perhaps through her local library or community center. These organizations offer a wealth of resources for networking and making connections among people with shared interests. Today's parents and caregivers are incredibly fortunate to be able to tap into a plethora of sources of support from likeminded individuals. Thank goodness for that.

What about you? What insights or sentiments of support would you say to someone who admits, "I'm a parent and I'm struggling right now. Any kind words appreciated."

College of Education Dean Marius Boboc (right) hosted a meeting with Andrei Muraru (left), ambassador of Romania to the United States, Tuesday afternoon. Muraru’s visit to the UMSL campus was part of his “50 States, One Community” tour to connect with the Romanian diaspora throughout the country. (Photo by Valerie Furlong)

What does the UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education team do during summer break? Some of us attend conferences. Take for instance, Dr. Jonathan Lidgus, Sarah Mosby, and Dr. Andrew Kliethermes, and our Succeed and Plus program graduates who are currently in Columbia, MO for the Postsecondary Transition Training Institute Conference.

Meanwhile, team members at UMSL north campus are preparing for the July Succeed Summer Enrichment Camp. You'll see photos and videos of a group activity on problem solving facilitated by practicum student Hao Wu at UMSL Lucas Hall. It's a test run of a group game that can be played at our upcoming camp. Today's objective was to evaluate and tweak the game mechanics. Conceived by Hao for his studies in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, his game aims to help students communicate, process, and seek support when solving problems of varying degrees of difficulty. Our test run revealed that an activity such as this helps people to open up about what they need, consider what they can do on their own, and realize when to seek assistance from others.

With Pony Bird, Inc. – UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

Team members from the University of Missouri-St. Louis UMSL: College of Education and UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education represented The Lou at the annual Southeast Post Secondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) Conference held in New Orleans from May 20 - 22, 2026.

UMSL College of Education Associate Dean Dr. April Regester, Midwest Inclusive Post Secondary Alliance (MIPSA) Regional Coordinator Mary Harden, and UMSL OIPE Sr. Communications and Events Coordinator Aina Ferris facilitated a presentation penned by OIPE Director Dr. Jonathan Lidgus on "The Expectation Game: Aligning Student and Family Goals for Inclusive Success". They also attended a number of breakout sessions on subject matters such as AI and how it impacts employment for individuals with disabilities; using generative AI for self-determination goal setting; strategic planning for IPSE (Inclusive Post Secondary Education) program sustainability.

The images on this post feature IPSE faculty and staff members, special education professionals, and scenes from a few breakout sessions.