Aggie ACHIEVE
Aggie ACHIEVE
Over 1 million school-age persons in the United States have Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Many young adults with IDD Aspire to have a life with a good job, good friends and independent living, just like their peers. Aggie ACHIEVE can help them reach these goals.
What is Aggie ACHIEVE?
Aggie ACHIEVE, is a comprehensive transition program for young adults with IDD who have exited high school. The program customizes coursework, internships and extracurriculars with each student’s academic and employment goals while providing them with a college experience, including residence life, and the opportunity to form lifelong relationships through campus activities.
The first two years of Aggie ACHIEVE focus on college life, including an on-campus internship during the first spring semester and weekly seminars on independent living, self-determination and inclusive career awareness. The final two years focus on career development and specialization, including off-campus internships matching each student’s field of expertise.
Program Goals
- Create a four-year postsecondary pathway for students with IDD in Texas to prepare for competitive employment and independent living.
- Provide students with an immersive college experience that includes access to all the services and support Aggie students receive.
- Expand the opportunities and experiences of students already on campus by providing them with opportunities to improve their understanding of other students.
Funding
Aggie ACHIEVE is supported exclusively through student fees and private funding.
Fees: $20,500 – Description: Aggie ACHIEVE and Texas A&M fees
Fees: $10,400 – Housing and meal plan* (rates vary by year)
*Aggie ACHIEVE and Texas A&M Residence Life work together to create a comprehensive living and learning community on campus. ACHIEVE students have a community of peers, convenient access to classes and activites and support form resident mentors.
ACHIEVEMates
ACHEIVEMates are undergraduate Texas A&M students from across the disciplines who volunteer to partner one-on-one with ACHIEVE students, facilitating their involvement within the campus community.
Aggie ACHIEVE exists as an accommodation to assist college students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to successfully attend college. Aggie ACHIEVE supports both student and faculty by bridging the communication between the student and the professor. Prior to the start of the semester, the student and faculty along with ACHIEVE staff participate in an ILA (Individual Learning Agreement) meeting. During this meeting, faculty provide the student and program staff with the course information, expectations, etc. The student will provide information regarding supports and accommodations he/she may need. Aggie ACHIEVE provides Study Hall support (minimum of 4 hours per week) for each student to be successful in their courses. Faculty are not required to change your teaching style or provide one-on-one instruction. ACHIEVE students can receive additional supports from Disability Resources including note taker assistance, extended time on assignments/tests, alternate assignment, and testing options (ACHIEVE students can submit power point presentations or have shortened tests). The accommodations are discussed as a team during the ILA. Each member of the ILA meeting is provided with a copy of the ILA agreement. Additional faculty support includes open communication with the program if there is an issue and or additional supports are needed. At the end of the semester, faculty completes an end-of-semester ILA to provide feedback on the student’s performance, their experience teaching and ACHIEVE student and if the faculty would like to continue the partnership with Aggie ACHIEVE. Research Support: Research plays an integral role in immersive education for students with disabilities. ACHIEVE students have participated in the research as a research participant as well as a project research team member. Aggie ACHIEVE can support the faculty and student by providing letters of support and or collaboration, a biosketch, disability resource accommodations for the student, Job Coach to support the student in their research assignments, open communication and overall general support.
Contact: aggieachieve@tamu.edu;
Website: https://aggieachieve.tamu.edu