International Journal of Arts and Humanities (IJAH)

This article describes the professional, personal and social growth that has occurred for pre- service teachers from Neumann University through trips to the Benedictine School in Ridgely, Maryland. The Benedictine School is a year-round day and residential school for individuals ages 5-21 with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism. For students from Neumann University, there were two primary purposes for these trips to Benedictine. First, these future teachers would have an opportunity to learn about the extensive services provided on behalf of students with significant disabilities, beyond what they would normally observe within local parochial, public, or charter schools. Secondly, this trip to Benedictine would enable students from Neumann to engage in service, an important core value of the University and to reflect on this experience relative to aspects of professional, personal, and spiritual growth that had occurred. This article will describe the positive outcomes for students through their involvement in this transformative experience.