Lipscomb IDEAL program receives $390,000 grant to expand job training

Lipscomb University has secured a $389,540 grant from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging to expand its IDEAL program.

The three-year funding will allow the university to increase enrollment in the Advanced Certificate Program and hire new staff to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The grant will pay for a dedicated program coordinator and an Employment Outreach Coordinator. It will also provide transportation assistance and access to industry certifications for students.

Lipscomb aims to grow the Advanced Certificate Program from six students to between 10 and 12 by the end of the grant period. The university plans to establish partnerships with six to eight additional Nashville-area employers.

The IDEAL program, which stands for Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb, launched in 2014. It initially offered a two-year Certificate in Career Exploration on campus.

In 2023, a previous Tennessee Believes grant allowed the program to start the Advanced Certificate track. This second two-year phase focuses on off-campus work and independent living skills.

Nine students are currently employed in the community as part of the Advanced Certificate Program this fall. Their workplaces include Saint Paul Senior Living Community, the Lipscomb Post Office, Hertz Rental Car, 55 South restaurant, GEODIS Park, The Acorn School, The Contributor newspaper, JT Moore Middle School, and Victor Tango restaurant.

Shayne Hanson, a third-year student, works at The Contributor, a nonprofit that serves the unhoused community. He has been loading newspapers and performing office tasks for one month.

"I love that I get to help make a difference within The Contributor Foundation. I love what they are doing for the unhoused community," Hanson said.

The program requires students to complete paid work experience. During the first three years of the Advanced Certificate, every participating student gained paid work experience.

Sarah Small, a 2025 graduate, works as a server assistant at Freeland’s Restaurant. She credits the program with preparing her for employment and independent living.

"It feels good to be independent, but I still need help with some things, and that’s ok because I am still learning every day," Small said.