ACCESS

Onondaga Community Living embarked on a brand new adventure, one unlike any other service we had. Home life and work life is what we know best, but people came to us asking for a new direction and we followed them. It was never a goal of the agency but it was a dream of those who came to us.

We discovered this need and the path we took by listening to people and their families who wanted to go to college. We learned about their true goals for higher education and their inability to find the support to achieve that. We teamed up with University College at Syracuse University with the support of the SU’s School of Education and the Office of Disability Services to enable 6 students with significant disabilities to participate in college level classes along with other typical college peers.

We have learned much from the On Campus Program through Syracuse City School system who has been a leader in inclusive college education. We are also learning from the Alberta Association for Community Living, which has much experience under their belt and has a premier inclusive educational service that spans the providence of Alberta.

Our college service, called ACCESS, maintains OCL’s current direction of providing personalized support in the most inclusive setting as possible.

Mission of Access
Access works to empower and support each student with their personal goals that are related to college course work and studies. We will work to make each student an integral and respected member of the college campus experience.

Student
Eligible Students:
-Qualify for funding under Medicaid
-Have a personal commitment to continuing their education
-Have a willingness to complete all course assignments with support

Each student has their own educational plan and registers for classes of their choice now under the guidance of a Syracuse University Academic Advisor. Each student participates in classes with other SU students. Each student is pair up with a Campus Mentor who assists the student with whatever he or she needs to be academically successful. A full time Teacher/Program Coordinator works with each student, their professor, teaching assistance and campus mentor to ensure that the best learning opportunities are made available to each student.

Coordinator
The program coordinator is an administrator with also a special education background. This coordinator trains and supports the campus mentors, adapts course work and works as a liaison with the SU community opening up the doors to what each student needs for an inclusive and ordinary college educational experience. The coordinator’s office is housed at University College in the financial aid office.

This position works to provide linkages for the students with other departments on the SU Campus and works with each department to ensure that each of our students are included and accepted as peers on the campus.

Students typically audit classes and will potentially leave with a certificate of completion through Syracuse University based on their areas of studies. Each student is supported in classes both during spring and fall semesters and then participates in a variety of activities during the summer which blends well with the studies that are taking.

Anyone interested in auditing classes that has a developmental disability and is Medicaid eligible can access the application here.

Anyone interested in supporting a student in this unique opportunity at SU as a Campus Mentor, please send your resume and letter of interest to g-bbuckhout@uc.syr.edu

To visit the Syracuse University Web Site information on this program please click here