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End of Semester Survey Results Indicate Lumina Foundation Support Levels the Playing Field

June 2006

Albertson, NY — A grant from Lumina Foundation has expanded and strengthened a program designed to meet the transitional needs of high school students with learning disabilities in the Long Island and New York City area. These individuals have the ability and desire to go to college but require more intensive vocational guidance and additional support in order to successfully transition into higher education and employment.

The Learn and Earn Program was established by Abilities, Inc. and implemented in collaboration with Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) through programs at both Nassau and Queensborough Community Colleges. This unique partnership developed given the strong commitment of these two colleges in addressing the needs of students with learning disabilities and their longstanding relationship with VESID. The goal of the program is to bridge the gap for those students who might never have had the opportunity to enter into higher education. Prior to receiving funding from Lumina Foundation the program operated as a one-year program. Now due to the generosity of the Lumina Foundation’s $220,000 grant over a two-year period, the program has expanded its support to students for an additional year. Funding has also provided for the inclusion of an in depth orientation to introduce students to the college environment, building relationships with peers, skills based tutoring, career exploration and internship experiences, ongoing mentoring and frequent discussions and mini-workshops about effectively succeeding in an academic and vocational environment with a learning disability.

“The program has the potential to serve as a national model for other organizations that work with at risk youth,” stated Francine Tishman, President and COO, Abilities Inc. With a national unemployment rate of 70% for adults with disabilities, youth in this category are at greater risk for inadequate education / training, unemployment, economic instability, dependence on public supports and lack of independence.

Learning disabilities are characterized by normal to superior intelligence and potential, but sometimes erratic performance and processing difficulties in educational settings. Ms. Tishman went on to say, “These students frequently have low self-esteem and low expectations. They are often disadvantaged by a lack of knowledge of compensatory strategies and awareness about how to access appropriate modifications and supports. Students with learning disabilities are often steered away from academics and into vocational programs without having the opportunity to succeed academically, but this program is designed to change that practice.”

The results from a student survey administered after the first semester of this newly expanded program indicate that more than half of the students enrolled in this program feel that they would not have been able to remain in college and/or be doing as well as they are with their academics if it were not for this program. Juliana Cortes, Queensborough Community College student stated, “I would probably have been lost without this program … it has really helped … it motivated me to do better in school.”

About Abilities!

Abilities, Inc. (an affiliate of Abilities!)

For almost 50 years, Abilities, Inc. has trained people with disabilities in the skills needed to perform at industry standards to meet current workforce demands. Abilities, Inc. evaluates, trains and serves over 6,000 individuals and places approximately 1,500 into competitive jobs each year. Its track record is unsurpassed in the excellence of our training programs and the success of our participants in finding jobs.

Abilities, Inc. staff works with individuals to develop and focus on their unique abilities that can be applied to the career of their choice. Courses are designed to increase the independence and marketability of individuals with disabilities. While addressing different skills development, all of the courses are designed to increase the number of individuals with disabilities who secure competitive employment.

Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation for Education is a private, independent foundation that strives to help people reach their potential by expanding “access” and “success” in education beyond high school. Their website is http://www.luminafoundation.org/.