UMID Resource Fair 2025
Tuesday, 02 December 2025
UMID Transition Resource Fair Hosts Hundreds of Students with Disabilities
The University of Memphis Institute on Disability (UMID) hosted its Fall 2025 Transition Resource Fair Thursday, Nov. 20, welcoming nearly 300 high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities from across the region. The event continues a long tradition of connecting students and families to the services, programs and community resources that help young adults prepare for successful and inclusive futures.
For more than a decade, UMID’s TigerLIFE program, in partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools and the College Campus Transition Program, has strengthened the bridge between secondary and post-secondary education. The annual fair reinforces that partnership by bringing together community organizations, campus offices, employers and inclusive higher education programs from across Tennessee. Students explored employment opportunities, college pathways and services that support independent living, with representatives from Vanderbilt, Lipscomb and other participating institutions.
. “The Transition Fair reflects TigerLIFE’s core values of opportunity, inclusion and belonging. We want every student to have the chance to learn, grow and dream big,”said Patrick Krolik, co-director of UMID.
Dr. Chrisann Schiro Geist, co-director of UMID, emphasized the importance of ensuring students and families have access to information that can shape their futures. “Students with disabilities and their families often do not have access to the same information sources as students without disabilities. Inviting them to the resource fair gives everyone the opportunity to visit providers, meet potential employers and connect with partners who offer vital services. It is something UMID is very proud to provide to the community of practice in Memphis.”
The fair showcased UMID’s commitment to providing students with the knowledge and relationships that help them plan for life after high school.
