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 Each academic year between 20 to 30 students are enrolled in the
ACCESS Program. The nationally recognized program is known for its
success in helping students with AD/HD, learning disabilities and
other disabilities that impact executive functions to succeed in
college. Lincoln College’s ACCESS program is one of only a small
number of specialized programs offered across the country for
students with learning disabilities.
Jessica Hood, ACCESS Coordinator says, “ACCESS is a unique program,
because not only are we helping to bridge the learning gap with
accommodations, organization and structure, but we are also helping
students build confidence and embrace who they are.”
The program follows the social model of disability wherein students
are offered opportunities to compensate for their disability with
appropriate strategies. This model increases students’ self-efficacy
as they are encouraged to pursue their strengths while having the
support of an ACCESS coach to assist with areas of weakness.
Hood reinforces the importance of helping students transition to
college. “The ACCESS program is very important for our students with
different abilities because not only does it help provide
organization and accountability, but we help to transition the
student from high school to college which can be a scary thing for
students with a disability” said, Hood.
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Students enrolled in the ACCESS Program are provided assistance in the form of
personalized academic coaching sessions, group meetings with other ACCESS
students, an ACCESS Prep Week consisting of an intensive five day seminar held
the week before commencement of the fall semester, and weekly follow-up reports
with the students’ parent(s)/guardian to inform them of their student’s
progress.
The personalized attention is a key factor in helping students gain confidence
and succeed.
“My experience with the ACCESS Program has been great; it has been nice to know
Ms. Hood genuinely cares about her students and their success,” explains an
anonymous ACCESS Student. “Because of the ACCESS program I have successfully
completed my Associates Degree and will be returning in the fall to earn my
Bachelor’s Degree at Lincoln College.”
Research has shown Lincoln College ACCESS students successfully graduate on time
at a significantly higher rate than the national graduation average.
[Christina Xamis]
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