{"id":36085,"date":"2025-10-07T08:48:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/?p=36085"},"modified":"2026-04-13T11:56:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:56:18","slug":"heels-2-transition-empowering-young-adults-with-disabilities-at-unc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/2025\/10\/heels-2-transition-empowering-young-adults-with-disabilities-at-unc\/","title":{"rendered":"HEELS 2 Transition: Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities at UNC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-36086\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"HEELS Week Away Summer 2025 group shot on the stair of Bondurant Hall. Group of participants along with faculty and students.\" width=\"377\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-175x131.jpg 175w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-280x210.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3579-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/people\/dara-chan\/\">Dara Chan<\/a> first joined the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Higher Education, Employment, and Living Success (<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">HEELS) 2 Transition (H2T) project toward building an inclusive post-secondary educational program at UNC in 2017, she did not expect the program to grow as expediently as it did. Beginning with discretionary funding from Oak Foundation in 2016, H2T now offers three programming options for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, despite obstacles with the COVID pandemic and some initial challenges from UNC leadership.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:720,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to their website, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/outreach\/heels2transition\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">HEELS 2 Transition<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> offers a range of strengths-based programs supporting young adults with intellectual and\/or developmental disabilities toward a self-determined life. The vision of the H2T leaders, such as Chan, was to create much needed programs and services based on supporting individual and community capacities for inclusion through building on the strengths of those with intellectual and\/or developmental disabilities. They aim to highlight that people of all abilities have the r<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ight to lead lives of dignity, choice, and access to their desired <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">participation in society. It is comprised of three programs: HEELS UP; HEELS Prep; and HEELS Week Away. These programs have been primarily offered during the summer and employed UNC students as part of the coaching staff, where they gain skills in working with the population in the process.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36088 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729.jpg\" alt=\"HEELS Week Away participant putting taco shells into the oven with supervision from faculty member.\" width=\"297\" height=\"239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729.jpg 1750w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-1024x823.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-175x141.jpg 175w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-768x617.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-1536x1234.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_3792-e1759840266729-600x482.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/outreach\/heels2transition\/heelsup\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">HEELS UP<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, led by UNC TEACCH Research Specialist and Assistant Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/teacch.com\/people\/brianne-tomaszewski\/\">Brianne Tomaszewski<\/a>, provides an inclusive postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/outreach\/heels2transition\/heelsprep\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">HEELS Prep<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, which Chan directs, focuses on developing skills and knowledge in six areas of the transition to adulthood: career exploration and development; self-management and goal setting; independent living skills; community safety; mental health; and sexual health education. The last two components were more recently added as the team realized the need for them in the past few years. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he Week Away program, which is offered to young adults who have completed HEELS Prep, invites participants to stay in UNC\u2019s Craige North dorm for a week. Now in its third year, this immersive experience allows young adults to put their HEELS Prep skills into practice and develop new abilities such as grocery shopping, navigating public transportation, and planning and attending social events. With team support, they expand and apply their skills in real-life situations.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dara Chan, ScD, focuses her research on improving community participation, integration, and inclusion for autistic adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She is an associate professor in the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in UNC\u2019s Department of Health Sciences and often collaborates with colleagues in the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) where she is an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fpg.unc.edu\/people\/faculty-fellows\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">FPG faculty fellow<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36090  alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766.jpg\" alt=\"HEELS 2 Transition participant and staff member washing dishes\" width=\"314\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-1024x951.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-175x163.jpg 175w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-768x713.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-1536x1426.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/628\/2025\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled-e1759840852766-600x557.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 314px) 100vw, 314px\" \/>\u201cIt is <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">important to offer greater visibility of the ongoing needs of adults with autism, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities,\u201d Chan states when asked about the importance of her programs, specifically HEELS 2 Transition.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:720,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For what the future looks like, Chan is currently working to turn the HEELS Prep program into<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> interactive e-learning modules which will allow for the information and skills to be expanded to a wider audience and provide ongoing support for the participants who have come to campus. From there, H2T has gained more support and funding from Oak Foundation in the long-term to expand H2T to offer year-round programming and support, with the main goal of expanding HEELS UP from a summer school only model to students taking classes and living on campus during the academic year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:720,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Spring 2025, the HEELS UP program moved forward with this goal, with the first cohort of three students auditing classes and living in student housing on campus. Fall 2025 marks the beginning of the first year of UP students on campus for the full academic year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the future, Chan and Tomaszewski hope to get the program to be a Transition In Post Secondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TIPPSID) program, to make it a year-round program for a wider opportunity for a bigger audience, and to gain federal funding for eventual financial aid for students and participants.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Dara Chan first joined the Higher Education, Employment, and Living Success (HEELS) 2 Transition (H2T) project toward building an inclusive post-secondary educational program at UNC in 2017, she did not expect the program to grow as expediently as it did. Beginning with discretionary funding from Oak Foundation in 2016, H2T now offers three programming &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/2025\/10\/heels-2-transition-empowering-young-adults-with-disabilities-at-unc\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about HEELS 2 Transition: Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities at UNC\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56087,"featured_media":36086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[75,107,4,76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crmh","category-h2t","category-news","category-osot","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>HEELS 2 Transition: Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities at UNC | Department of Health Sciences<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/2025\/10\/heels-2-transition-empowering-young-adults-with-disabilities-at-unc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HEELS 2 Transition: Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities at UNC | Department of Health Sciences\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Dara Chan first joined the Higher Education, Employment, and Living Success (HEELS) 2 Transition (H2T) project toward building an inclusive post-secondary educational program at UNC in 2017, she did not expect the program to grow as expediently as it did. 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