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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHeartwarming Moment Man With Down Syndrome Learns He's College-Bound
For Danny and Susan Holcombe of Moore, S.C., it was a day they weren't sure their son Rion, who has Down syndrome, would ever get to experience.
As Rion, 20, carefully opened his letter from Clemson University earlier this month, his parents anxiously stood by, making sure to capture the moment on camera.
"What does it say?" Rion's father, Danny, asks on the video, which has stormed the Internet with nearly 1 million views.
"I got accepted," Rion responds, shocked, almost bewildered by the news.
"We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into the Clemson LIFE program," Danny continues to read the letter, helping Rion grasp the exciting news.
Receiving the acceptance letter into Clemson's LIFE program, which is designed for students with special needs and intellectual disabilities, was certainly a momentous occasion for the family.
"He was looking so forward to this," Danny told GoodMorningAmerica.com of his son's potential college future. "There are so few slots available for this program and the competition is really steep. He had no idea if he'd get in or not get in."
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More: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/heartwarming-moment-man-down-syndrome-learns-39-college-212011926--abc-news-parenting.html
Good on Rion! Welcome to Tigernation!
Gawd bless my alma mater for developing the LIFE program. Those kids get to be on a college campus and learning life skills to help them be more independent. The football team has 2 of these kids as managers.
It was fun to see his expression. His parents can visit him while knowing he is in a safe place to live. It's a win/win. Both Clemson and the kids learn a lot from each other.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)we hope to get him into a program designed for people with learning disabilities at Bellevue College in WA. I am so glad to see these kinds of programs being created, and I am so happy for this young man.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)One of our kids got an AA from Bellevue College. Now that he's at Seattle U, he feels he got a very solid start there.
And now Bellevue is starting to offer some four year degrees.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Colleges can be a great place for these kids to develop their life skills.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)We all benefit from an educated populace.
kcr
(15,317 posts)I was happy for the young man in the story but I couldn't help thinking of all the other kids who will miss out.
Lucky Luciano
(11,256 posts)brer cat
(24,565 posts)I hope more colleges & universities will develop similar programs.