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.