My Possibilities has announced the first phase of a three-year, $25 million capital campaign that will expand the nonprofit’s ability to serve the more than 250,000 people with a cognitive disability over the age of 5 living in North Texas.
The nonprofit began eight years ago as the vision of three mothers who wanted a better future for their children.
As part of its expansion plans, My Possibilities bought 20 acres of land in Plano to launch its Lifelong Learning Program, an educational environment that is modeled after a college campus but is designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Regardless of diagnosis, people with cognitive disabilities have very similar goals to everybody else; they want to live, work, and socialize in the community.”
Michael Thomas
MP University will be a campus of higher education focused on supporting the full integration of people with disabilities in the community, My Possibilities Executive Director Michael Thomas told Dallas Innovates.
“Regardless of diagnosis, people with cognitive disabilities have very similar goals to everybody else; they want to live, work, and socialize in the community,” Thomas said.
He said the campus will provide classes specifically to “HIPsters,” what My Possibilities calls its “Hugely Important People.”
The campus will offer Integrated classes that are open to the community, and industry specific training, providing disability education to educators, medical professionals, human resources professionals, therapists, first responders, and others.
“At My Possibilities, we have seen the improvements made in the lives of our students when they are provided continuing education,” Thomas said. “Our campus will provide life and job skills training specific to each individual, supporting their path to reaching their greatest potential.”
The nonprofit has raised more than $12.5 million to date for the new campus.
A private groundbreaking for the campus was held in late April.
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