InclusiveU senior with Down syndrome taking on 'Cuse dorm life for first time

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Harry Dydo is 22-years-old and loves Syracuse University sports.

Dydo, of Cazenovia, has been “bleeding orange” from the start.

Born with Down syndrome, dreaming of going to SU was very much just a dream for many years.

The dream turned into a reality thanks to SU’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education.

In its 10th year, The Taishoff Center is home to the InclusiveU initiative, which offers a comprehensive college experience for students with intellectual disabilities including individualized coursework, person-centered planning, professional internships, and social and extracurricular activities.

Dydo is currently working toward earning his college certificate from InclusiveU while picking up experience through job internships.

This year, Dydo is working at the newly built Barnes Center at The Arch, a health-and-wellness facility on campus offering all students support for mental and physical wellness.

However, Dydo has already checked off another major milestone – living on his own in a dorm on the SU campus.

“My dream,” Dydo shared. “Yeah, I can’t stop smiling about it. Oh my God.”

His Orange pride is also shining as he continues to work for the Syracuse Men’s Basketball team.

Some of your favorite SU hoops players are Dydo’s friends.

Watching all he’s accomplished is, at times, “unbelievable,” to Dydo’s parents.

“It’s truly amazing,” said Colette Powers, Harry’s mom. “You know, we say, we always look at each other and we’re like pinch me. My youngest just went off to Geneseo and I will say to people, if I ever thought I was going to say I have two in college the day that he was bornnever.”

That saying, “never say never,” is a thing of the past.

At InclusiveU it’s about possibilities for all abilities.

“It’s really amazing to see the change in Harry but really to see that as indicative of the change for all of our students,” said Beth Myers, executive director at the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education. “He is just this really interdependent senior student just like all the other seniors here. He walks across campus. He participates in kinds of activities here. He knows so many people and that’s just really such a great thing for him, really for all of us for our campus community.”

After graduation, Dydo won’t be going back to his parent’s home in Cazenovia. Instead, he has plans similar to any other SU alum.

Dydo plans to get a job, marry his longtime girlfriend, Gabby, and get a place of their own.

“I’ve done all I can possibly do,” Powers shared. “He worked all last year. He worked this summer with a mentor. Practicing the streets, she was fabulous, practicing the bus route. He’s loving life. He’s crushing it. Just crushing it.”

InclusiveU offers several programs for students including internship opportunities and job training. To view the programs, click here.

According to Executive Director Myers, InclusiveU graduates have a 100 percent employment rate.