Project 10 provides professional development and technical assistance to every school district in Florida to help build capacity to provide secondary transition services to students with disabilities in order to improve their academic success and post-school outcomes. Project 10 STING RAY is specific to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) Campus that gives young adults with intellectual disabilities, ages 18 to 22, an opportunity to experience life on a college campus while developing self-determination, independent living, and employability skills needed to become independent and productive citizens.

Project 10 STING RAY was federally funded, not through USFSP, and has lost their grant for the Fall 2017 semester. The program is trying to get funding to continue in Spring 2018 but that is six months away and is not guaranteed.

This affects EVERYONE. Students with intellectual disabilities are students just like you and I; they deserve a chance for higher education just like the rest of us. Two of USFSP's core values are: Inclusion of Differences and Commitment to Community, both of which are being threatened if STING RAY does not continue. Many students have seen the POWERFUL and POSITIVE changes that STING RAY has had on the participating individuals. It has flourished to creating friendships and community between students of all social identities here at USFSP.

By signing this petition you are agreeing that funding needs to be provided for the students in this program and that Project 10 STING RAY should return in the Fall.