Syracuse University’s ‘InclusiveU’ program helped turn senior’s challenges into strengths
(Spectrum News | April 14, 2026) April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate inclusion and diversity while promoting a deeper understanding of the disability. At Syracuse University, one program is doing exactly that: InclusiveU.
Wyatt Humpf is a senior in the program. “InclusiveU got me here to Syracuse,” Humpf said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Humpf is autistic, something that’s made certain parts of his life challenging. “I had so much trouble of learning stuff,” Humpf explained. “Like I didn’t want to do anything because my mind didn’t understand anything.”
After high school, he says he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. That’s when his family told him about InclusiveU. “When I got here…my life changed,” Humpf said.
InclusiveU took his challenges and helped turn them into strengths. “I can’t believe I got to be the person I never thought I could be and make me a better me,” Humpf said happily.
InclusiveU is a program that aims to create fully inclusive college experiences for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who historically have not had access to higher education.
“We set out with this program to create opportunity across the board,” Sam Roux said, the academic coordinator for InclusiveU.
Roux says InclusiveU doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all-plan. Instead, each student’s experience is tailored to their own wants and needs. “It is not prescribed, it is what you make of it,” Roux explained. “And it has the opportunity that you want to realize.”
Humpf has certainly made the most out of his four years in the program. “He has completely squeezed the juice that is orange right?” Roux beamed. “He is someone who has gotten so involved in all aspects of this experience and has truly, at this point, become somewhat of a celebrity on this campus” …