College Living Experience in Nashville, TN | Children`s and Teens` Education

College Living Experience

For students with special needs, life after high school is full of possibilities, including college.
Finding the right college program for students with autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s, nonverbal learning disorder, ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilities is vital for a college student’s transition into independent adulthood. The right program should provide support for each student’s unique needs and goals.
With the help of College Living Experience (CLE), young adults with learning disabilities are experiencing independence as college students. College Living Experience helps special needs students attend universities, community colleges and technical and vocational schools near one of the six CLE locations across the country.
CLE is a comprehensive program that provides young adults with the opportunity to pursue higher education and transition into their next life stage – independent adulthood. Our staff works closely with students to provide structured tutoring to develop academic skills, group outings to facilitate the development of social skills and instruction in independent living, such as grocery shopping, cooking and paying bills. Students live in apartments near the CLE offices and receive intensive support to achieve their goals.
By providing intensive assistance to students with varying abilities, College Living Experience helps students develop the well-rounded interpersonal skills required to have successful social interactions, prepare for the workforce and master the life skills needed to live independently.
Philosophy
CLE provides support in three areas: academics, social skills and independent living skills.
Academic Support
Students receive the academic support they need to earn an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate. By earning degrees of their choosing, students with special needs create an opportunity to seek meaningful work and provide for themselves. CLE collaborates with certificate programs, two year colleges and four year universities to provide a variety of opportunities for students to study what they find fulfilling.
Social Skills
Some students with special needs benefit from social skills guidance to feel comfortable in social settings. CLE provides instruction and guided self-discovery to students in need of social skills development. Students are provided with instruction based on their current social abilities; some students need more help than others. CLE provides the support necessary for students to experience successful social interactions in a variety of settings—class, work and home. The ultimate goal in providing social skills training is to help students succeed and remain independent in different environments.
Independent Living Skills
Students with special needs also receive independent living skills support to prepare them for life away from home. Students learn how to do their own laundry, create a budget, pay bills, distinguish junk mail, cook and organize their living areas. They learn how to maintain their safety and security by becoming familiar with public transportation and learning important basic concepts, such as locking their doors and safeguarding personal information on the internet. Instructional sessions help students reach their ultimate goal of living as independent adults away from home.With the appropriate academic, social and independent skills, students with special needs can learn, work and play as independent adults.