It was 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when parents of a son with intellectual disabilities approached their Sunday school class and asked a probing question. "Would they consider doing something for children with intellectual disabilities?" The outpouring of compassion seen then has cascaded down through multiple generations, profoundly impacting the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through what is now known as Shepherds Ministries.  

 Fifty-one years from the time that first Sunday school class embraced the challenge of “doing something” for children with intellectual disabilities, Shepherds College, a 3 year post-secondary education program was established.

            
               Shepherds College is so much more than a school for students with intellectual disabilities. It's a safe-haven where they can come and feel comfortable while learning new and exciting things. And the types of things learned there are designed to prepare students for a life career and teach skills that will help them through everyday situations.

   Academics are an important part of Shepherds College, but leading a spiritual life is another one of their main focuses.  Believing that everyone was uniquely created by God for a purpose, and that each person in this world deserves a chance to fulfill lifetime goals and dreams, it is their desire to see students succeed.

There are not many resources for students with intellectual disabilities in the nation. Students at Shepherds College receive education, skills training and support to successfully bridge the gap from school and home to Appropriate Independence™.

Along with studies in the Culinary Arts and Horticultural Studies, Shepherds College offers a general education program that is focused on helping the students develop skills they will need for everyday life. This curriculum contains five main categories of learning:

  • Functional Academic Skills
  • Mobility Skills
  • Spiritual Life
  • Daily Living Skills
  • Social/Emotional Skills

The Functional Academic classes are practical in nature, reviewing and then building on the aptitude each student possesses within the areas of:

  • Language Arts
  • Math and Money Skills
  • Computer Skills
  • Career Skills

An important aspect of any college experience is life on campus. Students attending Shepherds College, located in Union Grove, Wisconsin, have ample opportunities to grow socially and develop life-long relationships through activities on campus. The village of Union Grove provides students with a quiet, small town experience, and yet the convenience of living close to the metropolitan Milwaukee area.

Students at Shepherds College have the opportunity to participate in the Special Olympics program. They can join teams, train and compete in a variety of sports including Bowling, Volleyball, Snowshoeing, Basketball, Swimming, Track, Bocce and Softball. Fitness equipment, bocce ball courts, the Bolthouse Center gym, and walking paths are all on campus.

To learn more about Shepherds Ministry go to: http://www.shepherdsministries.org/

To learn more about Shepherds College go to: http://www.shepherdscollege.org/