Is Beyond Limits working? You be the judge!
In a recent poll over 95% of the typically developing college students at Bethany indicated that:
Including people with disabilities into their college life enhanced their college experience
Including people with disabilities will have a positive impact in their future ministries and careers
They are more likely to include people with disabilities in other settings outside of college!
Emma - former student
“I was just thinking about all of the students today and how much I miss everyone from Beyond Limits. Those people are my dear friends and I have been incredibly blessed by each one of them. It brings tears to my eyes to think about how thankful I am that God allowed them to be apart of my life. I have been looking through pictures of me and my sweet friends and I just laugh with joy at how much God used them to impact my heart. I just wanted to tell you thank you so much for all of your hard work and passion; having the Beyond Limits students on Campus is such a precious gift.”
Rev. Steve Bundy - Senior Vice President, Christian Institute on Disability, Joni & Friends
Beyond Limits demonstrates the incredible need for spiritual, social and educational inclusiveness for those who have intellectual disabilities. Students who are challenged with disabilities are provided the opportunity for their own personal growth and development in a university setting while sharpening the growth of fellow students studying and interacting alongside them. Christian universities around the country strive to prepare students for leadership success in integrity, character and professionalism. I have seen and experienced Beyond Limits in the university setting and can think of no better way to prepare students in their own maturity than an inclusive program like Beyond Limits. The Beyond Limits team has led the way for innovative education and set the standard for inclusiveness at the university level.
As Beyond Limits has accepted the challenge of collaboration by encouraging and helping Christian Universities start unique programs of their own I can recommend them as a guide to help navigate the ever changing landscape of this new and exciting endeavor.
Rev. Dr. Wade Mobley - President - Free Lutheran Bible College
“Beyond Limits has been a perfect fit on this campus. I was optimistic that our ministries would fit together, but I had no idea how quickly and how deeply we would become one community. The presence of our Beyond Limits students has added a richness and depth to our campus. They are a constant reminder of the inherent worth of every human soul by virtue of both creation and redemption.”
Kerri - Beyond Limits Graduate
"When I started here at Beyond Limits I did not know what to expect. I have a seizure disorder and Aspergers Syndrome so I had no real idea if college was the right fit for me based on my seizures. I was afraid that if I went to college and had one they would not let me into the program. I overcame that by praying each and every day about it and thought to myself "Should I do this?" "Should I not do this?" Finally, I can to a conclusion and decided to do it! With the help of an unknown financial supporter and the leadership team of Beyond Limits, I was able to attend this wonderful program.
Life at Beyond Limits was wonderful for me. I have learned to make new friends, try new things, and broaden my horizons at little bit. I have made lots of new friends here as well. I love the fact that we got to go to school events together, movies, or even the Mall of America sometimes.
I want to raise funds for Beyond Limits so that people with disabilities like me can have experiences like I am having. Just because we have a disability and sometimes makes it hard for us to learn does not mean we can't go to college. Because if we try we can do it!"
Rev. Adam osier
Our campus has been tremendously blessed by our partnership with Beyond Limits. The presence of the Beyond Limits students on campus has added a depth and richness to our community that I couldn’t have foreseen or predicted. Incorporating students with disabilities into our program helps our typically abled students develop a perspective on life and faith that was previously lacking. It is a witness of God’s unconditional love and care for his children as we witness the relationships our students have formed with the students from Beyond Limits. Though relatively new, it would truly be difficult to imagine our program without this partnership.
Dr. Matthew Anderson, DMin, wrote this excerpt from a paper on inclusion called “Beyond Expectations: A Case Study in Inclusion” in 2020. You can read this encouraging interview with Excecutive Director Craig Spofford here
