Many colleges now boast programs specifically directed at students with learning disabilities.
For individuals with developmental disabilities seeking a post-secondary education, the road forward can be daunting. Colleges are often highly competitive environments, and the expectations placed on those enrolled may intimidate prospective students with disabilities. However, a large number of schools now offer assistance programs specifically directed to help individuals with disabilities get the most out of their college experience.
Utah State University: Project PEER
Utah State University, located in Logan, 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, enrolls 25,000 students. USU's Center for Persons with Disabilities offers Project PEER -- Postsecondary Education, Employment, and Research -- a program designed specifically to aid students with developmental disabilities find employment. While PEER does not work in tandem with the traditional educational degrees as offered by the university as a whole, it does provide its students with individualized tutoring, as well as training in social interaction and travel and life skills. USU's Center for Persons with Disabilities has received a grant from Think College!, a program dedicated to helping students with developmental disabilities find higher educational programs.
Lesley University: Threshold Program
Lesley University is a small university located in Cambridge, MA. As of the 2007-2008 academic year, Lesley enrolled 1,857 undergraduate and 7,768 graduate students. Lesley's Threshold Program caters to students with substantial learning disabilities and other special needs, assisting them with their studies at the university as a whole. Students admitted to the Threshold Program must bear other learning certification, such as a special education certificate, fall within a specific IQ range and posses the basic ability to navigate the university's campus and follow the program's rules. The program ultimately seeks to provide students with the tools for independent living. Students live in the university's dorms, and interact with other members of the program on a regular basis.
Colorado State University: OPS
Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, and as of 2010 enrolls approximately 25,000 students. CSU's Center for Community Partnerships offers OPS, or Opportunities for Postsecondary Success, to individuals with developmental disabilities over the age of 17 who have already received some high school education. In addition to providing assistance with classes at the university, the OPS program includes training in community living, travel, and social skills, aimed toward allowing participants success in the college's other programs through improved interactions with teachers and other students. Students in the OPS program are given the option to live either in the college's dorms or in apartments on or off campus.
George Mason University: The Mason LIFE Program
George Mason University is located in northern Virginia, across three campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William. The university's Mason LIFE Program is located at the Fairfax campus, and is open to students over 18 who have participated in some high school education. The LIFE Program not only aids students with developmental disabilities to receive education in college courses and learn social skills, but also provides learning opportunities for other Mason students looking to go into the disabilities field. LIFE participants will spend a quarter to a half of their academic time at the university in the program itself, and can live either in on-campus housing or off-campus apartments.
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