Strengthening Disability Services
Colleges and Mentors in Pilot Project 

by Lynn Barnett
(adapted from Community College Times, November 1995)

In a stiff national competition, four community colleges and four mentors were selected in November 1995 to participate in a Department of Education-funded project, "Improving Disability Support Services (DSS) in Community Colleges." The American Association of Community Colleges implemented the pilot project.

National data indicates that more students with disabilities attend community colleges than any other segment of postsecondary education. The colleges' open door policy and small class size may make them more attractive to students with disabilities. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests that community college DSS programs are not receiving their fair share of support, a notion reinforced by proposed federal legislation that will do away with set-aside funds for people with disabilities.

The AACC pilot project pairs a two-person DSS team from selected colleges with a mentor from another institution. The expectation is that the mentor's experience will give direction to new DSS programs or to strengthen particular aspects of current programs. The teams and mentors will complete their official mentoring work in September 1996.

Colleges being mentored are:

• Coconino Community College, AZ, for its efforts to improve service delivery in rural extension sites;  
• Harrisburg Area Community College, PA, to strengthen a holistic approach to serving students;  
• Ocean County Community College, NJ, for development of a job transition and placement program; and  
• SUNY College at Delhi, NY, to develop a team approach to meeting the needs of students with disabilities

Mentors for the project come from:

• Calhoun State Community College, Decatur, AL  
• New River Community College, Dublin, VA  
• Richland College, Dallas, TX  
• St. Philip's College, San Antonio, TX