Gene Stallings to Speak at UA RISE Graduation July 28—Mike Shula’s Daughter Among Graduates

RISE, The University of Alabama’s renowned early intervention program for disabled and non-disabled children, will recognize 19 graduates at its annual graduation ceremony Thursday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stallings Center on the UA campus. Former University of Alabama head football coach Gene Stallings will be the featured speaker.

The graduating class of 19 includes Samantha Shula, daughter of Alabama head football coach Mike Shula and his wife, Shari. Samantha is one of the non-disabled preschoolers.

According to Dr. Martha Cook, RISE director, the program has helped prepare more than 2,000 children, both disabled and non-disabled, for public school classes over the past 30 years. In 1999, RISE received accreditation from The National Association for the Education of Young Children, a prestigious recognition only achieved by 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide.

The RISE program, located in the Stallings Center, named for the Stallings family, looks like any other daycare center, except provisions have been made to address the children’s specific disabilities. Classrooms, from infant to preschool, include age-appropriate toys, and each is staffed with a master’s level teacher and aides. Each class follows a curriculum for their age level. Speech, physical, occupational and other therapists are brought in to the Stallings Center, so the children have all their treatment in one location. Students without disabilities attend RISE, creating a true mainstream environment in the program.

While RISE aids in the development of disabled children, RISE is also used as a hands-on training facility for UA students majoring in early childhood education, communicative disorders, nursing and social work.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Dress rehearsal for the RISE graduation ceremony will be held Thursday, July 28 at 11 a.m. RISE parents, including Shari Shula, and RISE director Martha Cook, will be available for interviews during that time.