California State University, Northridge (California): TAP (Thriving and Achieving Program)

Students Served by the Program
Students with Disabilities (Physical, Cognitive, Mental Health). 

Program Description / Mission
The Thriving and Achieving Program (TAP) is dedicated to supporting the academic, personal and career success of students with disabilities. Our program staff consist of professionals and specialists who work collaboratively with students who have physical, mental health and learning disabilities.

Key Services
Key services include:

• Helping  students to determine their strengths. Strengths are built upon to help them grow and develop. Key services include:
• Academic coaching provided trained upper class and graduate students.
• Connection Points - These forums that cover broad topics to help TAP students grow and develop as well as to become active members of the campus community.
• Assistance with the development of self-advocacy skills.
• Training and consultation with the use of technology to enhance learning.
• The development of an academic plan based on a student's strengths and goals. 
• The development of a goal map that includes specific areas that a student would like to work on.
• Strengths based counseling. TAP students take Strengths Quest Assessment and discuss the results to determine areas of strengths that can be built upon academically and socially.

Note: The Thriving and Achieving Program is two semesters. Each student signs a contract to fulfill his/her responsibilities as a part of the program.

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
Approximately ninety students.

Address and Contact Information
Disability Resources and Educational Services
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Bayramian Hall 110
Northridge, CA 91330-8264
818-677-2684

Students can also contact Elsa Toledo, Transition Specialist
elsa.toledo@csun.edu

Quick Notes about the College 

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,500 undergraduate students.  
• California State University, Northridge is a public university located in a large city in an urban setting.

Program Website
http://www.csun.edu/dres/thriving-and-achieving-program

Central Lakes College (Minnesota): Occupational Skills Program

Students Served by the Program
 Students with LD/ADHD, mild DCD, and ASD are typical students. However, any student would be accepted with a documented disability that may find the rigor of a more traditional college program too challenging, yet would be able to maintain entry level employment with training and support. 

Program Description / Mission
To prepare students with disabilities to work independently and live successfully in the community.

Key Services
Key services include:

• Classroom and onsite training in employment soft skills.
• Training is provided in independent and community living skills.
  

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
Approximately thirty students.

Address and Contact Information
Brian Miner (Occupational Skills Program Coordinator)
218-855-8077
800-933-0346 Ext. 8077
bminer@clcmn.edu
Or
Patty Sloan (Occupational Skills Program Staff)
218-855-8075
800-933-0346 Ext. 8075
psloan@clcmn.edu

Quick Notes about the College

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 4100 undergraduate students.  
• Central Lakes College is a two-year public community and technical college.

College Website
http://www.clcmn.edu

College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio): Project EXCEL

Students Served by the Program
Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. 

Program Description / Mission
Project EXCEL is a comprehensive academic support system for students with specific learning disabilities and ADHD. Initiated in 1982, Project EXCEL has proven to be a highly successful intervention program. A fee-for-service program, Project EXCEL addresses the needs of this specific group of students through a comprehensive academic support system. Students must be admitted to the College of Mount St. Joseph before applying for Project EXCEL. Project EXCEL students discover academic strengths, address learning challenges and acquire new skills.   Project EXCEL serves students in order to help them maximize their potential and aid them in acquiring the skills necessary for success.

Key Services
Key services include:  

• Academic counseling.  
• Student progress monitoring.  
• Organization and time management skills development and counseling.
• Individualized scheduling  Access to and instruction in assistive technology.
• Access to speech recognition software.
• Direct instruction in academic success strategies.
• Assistance with reading and writing in content areas.

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
Approximately eighty-five students.

Address and Contact Information
Project EXCEL  
College of Mount St. Joseph  
5701 Delhi Road 
Cincinnati, OH 45233 
513-244-4623

Quick Notes about the College

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,050 undergraduate students.
• The College of Mount St. Joseph is a private institution located near a large city.

Program Website 
http://www.msj.edu/academics/disability-services/project-excel/

Concordia College (New York): Concordia Connections

Students Served by the Program
Students with Learning Disabilities, who have demonstrated the potential to earn a college a degree. 

Program Description / Mission
Concordia Connections is a mainstream program in which students in the Concordia College academic and co-curricular programs. The Concordia Connections program is committed to providing a supportive and caring environment where students with particular learning can have a rewarding college experience. The Concordia Connections program helps students to develop individualized learning strategies. The program also assists them in developing the skills needed to confident and self-reliant learners, who can advocate for themselves in colleges and in future careers.

Key Services
Key services include:   

• A one credit independent study course each semester, which includes weekly group sessions with the program's director and staff members focusing on individualized learning strategies. This also includes two study sessions per week in which students receive assistance from the program staff relating to current coursework.
• Regular progress monitoring.
• Advisement on courses.  An array of support services.
• Individual counseling sessions with the program director as needed. 

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
Limited to ten new students each year.

Address and Contact Information
Concordia Connections 
Concordia College - New York 171 
White Plains Road 
Bronxville, New York 10708 

Quick Notes about the College

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 760 undergraduate students.
• Concordia College is a private institution located in a suburban setting.

Program Website
http://www.concordia-ny.edu/academics/support_services/connections/ 

University of Connecticut (Connecticut): BOLD Program (Building Opportunities for Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD)

Students Served by the Program
Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. 

Program Description / Mission
The main goal of this program is to emphasize three elements for a positive college experience; Learning Strategies, Learning Technologies and Learning Environment. BOLD provides students with the support needed to learn college level learning strategies and technologies that address their unique learning needs in a higher education setting. BOLD program goals include helping students: 

• Increase their use of college-level learning strategies, study skills, and self advocacy. 
• Build an awareness of learning technologies to facilitate study strategies and skills for online and blended courses. 
• Create a positive learning environment through active networking and communication among students, faculty, and staff. 

Key Services
There are three prongs to the BOLD program, which include Learning Strategies, Learning Environment and Learning Technologies. Students increase their college-level learning strategies, and study skills by working with a strategy instructor each week in a 1-1 setting. Students create a positive learning environment through active networking and communication and lastly, BOLD works to build awareness of learning technologies that facility study strategies and skills.

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
Approximately eighteen to twenty-five students.

Address and Contact Information
BOLD Program 
Center for Students with Disabilities 
233 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4174
Wilbur Cross Building, Rm 204
Storrs, CT 06269-4174
860-486-2020

Quick Notes about the University

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,350 undergraduate students.
• The University of Connecticut is a public institution in a rural setting.

Program Website
http://www.csd.uconn.edu/bold_program.html

Curry College (Massachusetts): Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL)

Students Served by the Program
The PAL Program primarily serves students with LD and ADHD. The program does not target students with a primary diagnosis of NLD or Asperger’s. However, approximately 10% or the students have one of these conditions as a secondary diagnosis. 

Program Description / Mission
PAL’s mission is to provide transformative learning experiences to students with LD and ADHD. Specifically, we engage students who have faced learning challenges in process of self reflection that assists them in developing self-confidence and a better understanding of themselves as learners. The tools we used in accomplishing these outcomes are mentorship, metacognition and strategic learning.

Key Services
Individual and small group sessions with a Learning Specialist (who has faculty rank). Students are assigned to the same learning specialist throughout their PAL experience, thus providing the opportunity to develop a caring/supportive bond. Learning sessions focus on building student self-awareness and self-confidence, metacognitive awareness, and contextualized strategies. We do not provide content tutoring but link our services to content tutors both on and off campus.  Students receive academic credit for participating in PAL. There are also summer programs available for students.

Approximate Number of Students Served Per Year
The enrollment of students in the PAL Program fluctuates between 300 and 400 students in any given semester.

Address and Contact Information
The PAL Learning Center
Curry College
1071 Blue Hill Avenue
Milton, MA 02186
Fax: 617-333-2018
Tel: 617-333-2250
Email: PAL@Curry.edu

Quick Notes about the University

• Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,690 undergraduate students.  
• Curry College is a private institution in a suburban setting.

Program Website 
http://www.curry.edu/programs-and-courses/undergraduate-programs/special-programs/ld-program---pal.html