STEP UP To Leadership Gulf Coast

04/24/2026

🎓 What if this summer could change a student’s future?

The Summer Enrichment Academy (SEA) is returning for its 9th year - helping students with disabilities build real-world skills, confidence, and independence while preparing for life after high school.

From career exploration to paid work experience, SEA gives students the chance to learn, grow, and succeed in a supportive environment.

✅ Career readiness & workplace skills
✅ Leadership and self-advocacy development
✅ Job coach support throughout the program
✅ Up to 120 PAID hours of work-based learning

📍 In-person (USM Hattiesburg & Long Beach) + Virtual option
⏰ Application Deadline: May 11

🔗Apply today: https://usmforms.formstack.com/forms/total_application

Know a student who would thrive in this program? Tag a parent, educator, or family member below 👇

04/24/2026

💼 Looking for Extra Help This Summer? Host an Intern!

IDS is currently seeking business partners across the Gulf Coast and Pine Belt to host student interns during our Summer Enrichment Academy!

By becoming a host business, you’ll help young adults with disabilities gain valuable real-world work experience while building confidence, independence, and career skills.

✅ Interns are paid through IDS
✅ Job coaching and support are provided throughout the internship
✅ Flexible, meaningful community partnership opportunity

📅 Internship Dates: June 8 – August 2

Interested in becoming a host site or learning more?

📍 Gulf Coast Area
Beth Robertson
📞 228-214-3422
📧 beth.robertson@usm.edu

📍 Pine Belt Area
Aysha Robertson
📞 601-266-4612
📧 aysha.robertson@usm.edu

Help us create inclusive workplaces while investing in the future workforce. We’d love to partner with you this summer!

03/18/2026

✨ 50 Years. 50 People. $50 Each. ✨

Yesterday, we celebrated 50 years of IDS — reflecting on decades of impact, partnerships, and the incredible people who make our mission possible.

Today, we’re inviting you to help launch the next chapter through our 50 for 50 fundraiser.

We’re looking for 50 individuals to give $50 each to strengthen programming, expand opportunities, and continue the work that has made IDS a trusted resource across our state.

Whether you’ve been part of the IDS story for years or are just discovering our mission, this is your chance to make a lasting impact.

🔗 Give today: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1149/foundation/index.aspx?sid=1149&gid=1&pgid=1512&cid=3748

02/17/2026

🎭 Heading into the busiest parade days next week! 💜💛💚

Have extra Mardi Gras beads or small throws after the festivities? Don’t let them go to waste — IDS can put them to work!

Our students use donated beads in hands-on job readiness activities like sorting, packaging, marketing, sales practice, and basic accounting — building real-world skills and confidence along the way.

✨ Donation bins are available at both IDS locations!
📧 Questions? Email us at ids@usm.edu.

Thank you for helping turn parade fun into meaningful, inclusive job training!

💜💛💚 Share this post to help us spread the word before the parades wrap up!

02/03/2026

Happy birthday to Joey Innes, our Amazing Self-Advocacy Coordinator and STEP UP Social Activity Coordinator! We appreciate you & hope you have a Fabulous birthday!!!🥳🐢🎉

01/01/2026

New year. Big milestone. 🎉

In 2026, IDS celebrates 50 years—and we’re just getting started. Join us for a year of special events, stories, and celebrations honoring our past and shaping our future. Happy New Year!

10/24/2025

⛳ Calling all golfers!
Join us for a great cause - ALL proceeds go directly toward programs that enhance the lives of Mississippians with disabilities and their families.
Please help spread the word! 💚

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi is gearing up for its Inaugural Golf Tournament on November 1, 2025. All proceeds will go directly toward programming for persons with intellectual and development disabilities.

IDS has been Mississippi's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for 49 years now. They currently have 26 active programs that help improve the lives of Mississippians with disabilities and their families.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://commerce.cashnet.com/usmIDS

They will also have add on competitions like longest drive and closest to the pin. The coffee we serve at registration is roasted in-house by students with disabilities in our EARN IT program. And seriously, our thank-you bags will be the coolest ones around.

Y’all plan to attend! Please share so the word gets out!

10/10/2025

Introducing... Our Ride Ahead! A new educational webinar series from the team behind The Ride Ahead.

To kick off the series, we're hosting two webinars for disabled youth on dating, relationships, romance, and s*xual health.

Join us for part 1 on October 24 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET to discuss disability and dating with award-winning educator and s*xologist Bianca I. Laureano,PhD (She/Her) and s*x educator of Cripping Up S*x Evan Sweeney (He/They). Open to everyone ages 16 and up.

We'll be continuing the conversation in part two on November 6 at 3:30pm PT / 6:30pm ET to discuss disability, romance, and s*xual health. Bianca I Laureano will be returning to moderate a panel featuring s*xuality educators Bethany Stevens, Cherry Kaufman, and Rise. Open to everyone ages 18 and up.

Our Ride Ahead webinars are free and open to the public. Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. RSVP at rideaheadfilm.com/webinars! Even if you can't attend live, register to receive a recording after the webinar.

[Image Description: A navy, yellow, and orange promotional graphic for two "Our Ride Ahead" webinars. Text reads "Part 1: Disability & Dating. October 24, 7pm ET. Ages 16+" with headshots of Bianca I Laureano and Evan Sweeney. Below text reads "Part 2: Disability, Romance, & S*xual Health. November 6, 6:30pm ET. 18+" with headshots of Bethany Stevens, Cherry Kaufman, Rise, and Bianca I Laureano. Below text reads "RSVP for free at rideaheadfilm.com/webinars"]

09/24/2025

09/17/2025

We are excited to announce that applications for the RISE To The Top! Southern Miss Program for Fall 2026 are NOW OPEN!! RISE To The Top! will help you reach to the top! SMTTT! https://usmforms.formstack.com/forms/rise_application
This year we will have an early consideration deadline of December 1 and a regular consideration deadline of January 15.

09/12/2025

09/04/2025

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is less than a month away. IDS in collaboration with Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services have updated the 2025 poster to include MS youth and young adults . . . If you would like copies of this flyer, email us at ids@usm.edu or go to our website www.usm.edu/ids and we will share it with you.