College Level Programs

• Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center

  The SALT Center is a fee-based academic support program that provides a comprehensive range of services to UA students with learning and attention challenges. The SALT Center facilitates learning, self-advocacy, and independence by empowering students to take ownership of their education. The SALT Center’s innovative approach is recognized nation-wide as one of the most successful for promoting student achievement in the university setting.

  Brochure: http://salt.arizona.edu/sites/salt.arizona.edu/files/16_SALT_Brochure%20.pdf
  Phone: 520-621-1242
  Website: salt.arizona.edu

• Disability Resource Center (DRC) at the University of Arizona

  Disability Resources collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create a usable, equitable, sustainable and inclusive environment for all members of the university community. Committed to the principles of universal design, Disability Resources helps identify and remove barriers to access at the design stage that can result in enhanced participation of all individuals. In the curricular arena, Disability Resources works proactively with instructors in re-imagining the design of their courses, encouraging faculty to think about all the different characteristics of students and to help create educational experiences that maximize engagement without the need for individual classroom accommodations.

  If individuals encounter academic, employment, physical, technology, or other barriers on campus, Disability Resources’ staff is available to partner to find good solutions or to implement reasonable accommodations

  Phone: 520-621-3268
  Email: drc-info@email.arizona.edu
  Website: http://drc.arizona.edu/about/introduction-drc

• Access and Disability Resources (ADR) at Pima College

  ADR strives to make Pima a barrier-free learning environment through collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and the community, promoting equal access to College programming for students with disabilities. ADR Program Specialists work with each student and faculty member to determine reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. To learn how to request accommodations and about your rights and responsibilities, services offered, and access technologies available at the College, contact ADR when you are ready to meet with a program specialist and get started with the eligibility process and to learn more about accommodations and services that are available.

  Ken Hosto
  Phone: (520) 206-3132
  Email: khosto@pima.edu
  Website: https://www.pima.edu/current-students/disabled-student-resources/

• Pima Community College Personalized Academic Coaching Experience (PACE)

  Pima community college provides supplemental academic support with the provision of a coach to students who are not able to meet the course objectives in their PCC classes with 504/ADAAA accommodations alone. You must first register with Pima and enroll in class.  Next step is to register with Access and Disability Resources (ADR) and request your accommodations.  While you are meeting with a Program Specialist to discuss your accommodations, ask about PACE. Once you are referred to PACE and complete an intake interview, you will receive written notification of your acceptance, placement on a waiting list, or denial. 

  Phone: 520-206-2257

  Email: pcc-pace@pima.edu (general info)

  Website: Personalized Academic Coaching Experience (PACE)

• Project SOAR – TRiO Student Support Services program

  Project SOAR, located at Pima Community College’s East Campus provides academic advising, career, transfer, and financial aid information, as well as workshops and tutoring to eligible students.  Project SOAR staff select 100 students to be a part of the program who meet the program objectives and have a documented disability.  Ideal candidates are motivated and able to earn a degree from PCC, and if interested, transfer to a four-year university.

  Nancy Keller, Program Director
  Phone: (520) 206-7402
  Email: nkeller1@pima.edu

• Project GREAT – TRiO Student Support Services program

  Project GREAT, located at Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus provides academic advising, career, transfer, and financial aid information, as well as workshops and tutoring to eligible students.  Students meet eligibility by having a documented disability, or qualifying as low income, or first generation to attend college.  Ideal candidates are motivated and able to earn a degree from PCC, and if interested, transfer to a four-year university.

  Carlos Gonzales, Program Coordinator
  Phone: (520) 206-5114
  Email: cgonzales@pima.edu

• Chapel Haven West

  Building on Chapel Haven’s success of nearly 40 years as a leader in the field of teaching and supporting individuals with learning challenges, Chapel Haven West teaches young adults to live independent and productive lives. Students live in a renovated apartment complex with 24-hour staffing and within walking distance to the University of Arizona (U of A). The program’s proximity to the U of A provides a rich array of benefits for Chapel Haven West students. The students attend classes and have access to university facilities including the Student Union, libraries, newly renovated Campus Recreation Center, state-of-the-art Disability Resource Center (DRC), and the renowned Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center. They also enjoy a rich array of classes, life skills training and social recreation opportunities at Chapel Haven West’s campus in the heart of Tucson.

  Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred Admissions Associate

  (203) 397-1714, ext. 113

  mwitkovsky-eldred@chapelhaven.org

Community Transition Programs:

• Advanced Community Training (ACT)

  ACT participants are students with disabilities, ages 18-21, currently enrolled in Tucson Unified School District and who meet programmatic criteria for ACT. Located in the community and not on high school campuses, ACT offers students a two year program to continue their transition and learning in integrated, age-appropriate environments within their community.  The ACT curriculum is research based and uses experiential learning as a teaching strategy.

  Each ACT student’s program is based on individualized goals and objectives determined by students and their families. Many of the ACT sites are located in proximity to the University of Arizona’s campus. Students learn by volunteering, internships, working, interacting with the public, and accessing the community on a full-time basis. Under the supervision of ACT teachers and para-professionals, many from the University of Arizona, ACT students walk and use public transportation to get to community sites.  ACT follows the TUSD school calendar, TUSD transportation is available, but families are encouraged to consider non-TUSD transportation such as Sun Tran city bus or Sun Van door to door service.

  TUSD website: http://www.tusd1.org/Departments/Exceptional-Education

• Project FOCUS (Focusing Opportunities with Community and University Supports)

  Project FOCUS is a two-year Career and College Ready transition program for young adults, age 18 to 22 years old with developmental disabilities. This is a dual enrollment program. Participants are dually enrolled with their local public-school district and the University of Arizona. Project FOCUS supports full inclusion to University of Arizona’s academic courses, work internship experiences and college life activities in order to increase participant’s independence, quality of life, and employability.

  Each student in Project FOCUS has a community of same age college peer mentors who serve as role models, natural support and friends. Students complete a minimum of 25 academic and internship credits over two years related to their work interest.  Upon completion, students receive a Service Learning Certificate from the College of Education. Students and their families are provided with support related to enhancing independent living skills and supports necessary to become a young adult who is self-determinate, a 21st century technology user and a contributing member of the Tucson Community. Our goal is to teach students to be ready to make their own decisions, travel as independently as possible and be ready for the next steps in gaining competitive employment.

  Colleen Middleton, Program Coordinator
  Phone: (520) 440-6938 // (520) 621-5165
  Email: coco@email.arizona.edu
  Website: www.projectfocus.arizona.edu

• Project SEARCH Arizona

  Modeled on an internationally recognized employment training program developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Project SEARCH programs in Arizona provide young people with disabilities quality unpaid internships for hands-on training and career exploration. Programs take place entirely within a host business where total immersion in the workplace facilitates the teaching and learning process through continuous feedback and the acquisition of employability and competitive work skills. The goal for each intern upon completion of a program is competitive employment in the community.

  Interns build communication and problem-solving skills as well as job specific skills through work site rotations. Following orientation to work site protocols, culture, and facilities, interns complete 3 to 4 unpaid rotations (each 10 to 11 weeks) during the program year. The intern, instructor, and job coach work together to select rotation sites based on the intern’s interest and skills. Each program day includes a 4 to 5 hour shift at the rotation site in addition to an hour of classroom instruction in employability and independent living skills. Program duration varies by site between 9 to 11 months.

  Laura Schweers, Program Coordinator
  Phone: (520) 626-0442
  Email: schweers@email.arizona.edu // ucedd@email.arizona.edu
  Website: http://sonoranucedd.fcm.arizona.edu/project-search-arizona

• Transition from School to Work (TSW) Vocational Rehabilitation Program

  The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) Transition School to Work (TSW) program is designed to prepare students with disabilities, grade 9 through 12,  for employment. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors collaborate with school social workers to ensure multiple avenues of support are available to each student participating in TSW. Students in the TSW program work with their VR counselors to explore employment and post-secondary education opportunities, to obtain work-based learning experiences and workplace readiness training, and to develop social and independent living skills.

  If you feel you would like to participate in the TSW program speak directly to your high school teachers, Job Development Instructor or Exceptional Education Department Chair. If you would like additional information on the TSW program you may contact Dan Perino, District coordinator for Tucson Unified School District’s TSW programming.

  Phone: (520) 232-8430
  Email: daniel.perino@tusd1.org
  Website (Vocational Rehabilitation) : https://des.az.gov/services/employment/rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation-vr