University of Missouri-St. Louis, Division of Continuing Education

Welcome to the Next Chapter Book Club Partnership of Greater St. Louis/St. Charles. Our partnership comprises the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, LifeSkills, St. Louis ARC, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Division of Continuing Education, School of Social Work, College of Education, and Center for the Study of Disability, Education, and Culture.

The partnership is a proud affiliate of the Next Chapter Book Club, founded at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center in 2002. This program provides adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to read and learn to read, talk about books, and make friends in a fun, community setting. Club members represent a range of reading abilities from those who read well to those who do not read at all.

Because Next Chapter Book Clubs are designed to promote literacy, social connectedness, and community inclusion, members meet weekly in local bookstores and cafes to read and discuss books and reading materials of their choice. The clubs are facilitated by volunteers who help club members read and socialize.

I hope that you will read through our Web site to learn more about what we do and how you can become involved.

Deborah Baldini, PhD
Associate Dean
College of Arts and Sciences
Continuing Education