Project Access
Improved High School Transition for College Bound Students Receiving Academic Accommodations
Project Access is a college preparatory program designed to facilitate the transition of high school students with disabilities into post-secondary education. The program strives to increase the success rate and freshmen retention rate in the post-secondary institute by providing instruction in relevant academic areas, career development, and college readiness skills.
Project Access is intended for high school students at least 16 years old and completing grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (as enrolled in the academic school year prior to the Summer Institute program). To be eligible, students must be receiving a High School diploma.
Project Access offers a four week Summer Institute program on the campus of Howard Community College. Additional events are held year-round, such as our parent information session and numerous social events.
Learn More and Apply to Our Summer Institute Program
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Benefits
Participation in Project Access increases the potential for college success and readiness through:
- Improved academic preparation for college.
- Improved self advocacy skills and college readiness skills.
- Instruction in executive functioning strategies such as organization, time management, test taking, etc.
- Knowledge of the college admissions process and services available to students receiving academic accommodations.
- Instruction relevant to reasonable accommodations and technology tools.
- Improved understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other legislation that provide equal access in education and employment.
- Instruction in career development skills.
- Increased awareness in how to navigate a college schedule and college campus.
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Goals
To improve student's potential for successful post-secondary experiences. This goal is accomplished through the Project Access Summer Institute, social events on the Howard Community College campus, and informational workshops for students and families.
To accommodate diverse learning styles in a range of academic settings, following the ADA law. This goal is accomplished by providing staff development and ongoing support and consultation to college faculty, staff, and students.
To assist students in the establishment of career goals. This goal is achieved through providing a course in career development which will offer evaluation of students' strengths, interests and values, interaction with individuals from diverse career paths and computer research of careers of interest.
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Summer Institute
The Project Access Summer Institute, held on the HCC campus, is an intensive four-week program providing instruction in creative and composition writing, financial literacy, study skills, executive functioning skills, advocacy skills, career development skills, and more.
Two additional Summer Institute components increase students' knowledge of the college process.
- College Readiness assists students with completing admission forms, arranging placement tests, meeting with DSS advisors, arranging tutoring, and selecting extracurricular activities. Students learn about the ADA law, reasonable accommodations, technology tools, advocacy skills and more. Twelfth-grade students also visit college classrooms and interact with professors to gain a better understanding of academic expectations on a postsecondary level.
- Pathway to College assists students with exploring the beginning steps toward college, researching colleges, identifying selection criteria, understanding terminology and more. This class is offered to 9th, 10th, and 11th graders.
Three weekly Friday field trips or events during the summer expose students to college life and postsecondary education opportunities. Project Access students are also invited to participate in social events throughout the year, including parties and a luncheon.
Summer Institute teachers are credentialed in the area of instruction and highly experienced. Additionally, Summer Institute peer mentors (successful college students with disabilities) are available as friends, role models, and mentors for Project Access students.
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Cost
The summer program tuition is: $950 (inside Howard County (HoCo), $960 (MD, outside HoCo), and $970 (outside MD). If required, financial assistance is available.
*Tuition costs are based on previous summer programs and may be subject to annual adjustments. Any tuition adjustments will be available prior to enrollment.
A 100% refund is available before the Summer Institute begins. There is no refund after the start of the Summer Institute.