ABOUT

After Azure Showers' former transition program left Buffalo, she had a choice to either relocate or create. Thankfully, she chose to launch Accessible Academics to ensure her caseload of students did not have to drop their education and go home. Azure wanted her students to graduate with an education that would serve them for life.

 

Azure recognized that there were limited post-secondary transition programs in Western New York (WNY) available at no or low cost to students with disabilities. Often, students were expected to rely only on the reasonable accommodations provided in college, when they required greater support. Most Medicaid-funded programs divide support amongst different staff members, making it confusing for the students they serve. Other transition programs limited students to only auditing classes, preventing them from gaining qualifications which could open so many doors in adult life. Also, these tranition programs were college-specific, restricting access to other institutions and the types of credentials they could earn. Accessible Academics could serve a community of students who were being failed by the traditional education system.

 

Accessible Academics addresses these issues by matching a coach to a student who will assist them in every area they require. Students can attend any post-secondary program in WNY, receive credit, and graduate with any degree or certificate!  Since starting the program, we found that many students are not interested in college but want to work towards self-employment goals or their GED.  Accessible Academics has expanded services so students can focus on their career and independent living skills. Students do not need to have a disability to benefit from our services. Our programs are free for low-income students!

 

Whether a student is a typical learner, or has a disability, pursuing college, trade school, or a GED program can be a challenge – and we want to be there to help. We know that a positive outlook is essential for growth and development. That is why our goal is for students to embrace a positive attitude about learning. With our guidance and students’ personal effort, students will see the results they want.