CHICAGO, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- College Living Experience (CLE), a program to help students with autism and other special needs attend college, has named Christine Anderson director of its Chicago program.
College Living Experience provides intensive assistance with academic, independent living and social skills to college students with special needs such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger's Syndrome, non-verbal learning disorders and other learning disabilities as they attend college.
Anderson, an experienced educator, earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington, D.C., and has taken post graduate courses in special education, education and psychology. She previously served as director of Ombudsman Educational Services centers in Skokie, Ill., and Lincolnshire, Ill. Ombudsman Educational Services partners with school districts to give students who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out a second chance to earn a high school diploma.
About CLE
CLE assists students who are accepted at any nearby college, university, technical or vocational school. CLE professional staff members work closely with students to provide structured tutoring sessions, independent living skills training and social outings. Students live in apartments near the CLE offices and student centers and receive intensive support in three primary areas to complement their higher-education goals:
-- Academics: Each week, students attend two to five 50-minute tutoring
sessions conducted by professional tutors. They also attend a weekly
course review and study-hall sessions three or four times a week.
-- Independent living: CLE staff work individually with students to
introduce apartment living and provide support for the development of
life skills. Students receive assistance with establishing and
maintaining a checking account, paying monthly bills, shopping,
preparing meals, cleaning and managing other daily-living necessities.
-- Social skills: All students enrolled in CLE are paired with a mentor
who takes on the role of a big brother or big sister. Students have
the opportunity to participate in social-skills groups that gather
around specific activities, such as bowling and cooking. Students may
also participate in social skills and stress management groups that
meet with the staff psychologist at least once a week.
CLE is a division of Educational Services of America (ESA), the nation's leading national provider of special, alternative and post-secondary education programs.
"By offering daily tutoring, independent living assistance, social events and access to a staff psychologist, we make sure all the needs of our students are met," Mark Claypool, president and CEO of ESA, said. "We focus on students' needs so they can focus on their dreams."
Students from around the country can enroll in CLE programs in Austin, Texas, Chicago, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Monterey, Calif., and Washington, D.C. CLE accepts applications at all locations year-round.
"The greatest fear of parents of exceptional children is, 'What will happen to my child when I'm gone?'" Claypool said. "Many parents never consider college as an option and they worry their children will not be prepared for independent adulthood. With the support and services of CLE, exceptional students can attend college, earn degrees and achieve the academic and social skills they need to live independently."
For more information on CLE, visit http://www.cleinc.net/ or contact Patricia Giner, national director of admissions, at 800-486-5058.
About Educational Services of America
Educational Services of America is the nation's leading provider of K-12 and post-secondary alternative and special education programs. Based in Nashville, Tenn., ESA owns and operates more than 120 schools and programs in numerous states throughout the country. ESA provides highly personalized academic and behavioral services for students through the following branded areas: College Living Experience, College Living Prep, ESA Exceptional Schools, Ombudsman Educational Services and Spectrum Center Schools. For more information, visit http://www.esa-education.com/.
Educational Services of America
