User:Whitesox2005/sandbox

Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers a unique program for students with learning disabilities. The Achieve Program is a service that offers tutoring for every class so students in the program can get help with homework, quizzes and studying for tests. They also offer extra time on test and quizzes and have quiet rooms to study in. Dr. Tan, the head coordinator of the program, is always around to help students get things done like organization and getting school work in on time. She has been around the university for a long time and has written some research studies that have been published. Suzy Richter is the office manager at Achieve. She schedules the test proctoring, tutors and visits for potential new students. Rodger Pugh and Grady Misselhorn are the training specialists for the tutors at Achieve. They not only pick the right tutors to hire, but they help students whenever they need it as well. The program is located in the North West Annex right on campus and the office hours at Achieve are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. They have two quiet computer labs with Dell Computers. Service is always available for the students who are in the program. They work a lot with reading skills. They offer text books on tape called Kurzweil reading software so the students can listen and read along at the same time which helps get the information down. They offer food and snacks on sale for students in case they don’t want to walk all the way to a dining hall to get food. The food offered is basic snacks like Nutrition bars and other healthy foods that can be good to help study.

Similar programs are offered around the country at high schools but the main difference between Achieve and high schools is that everybody at Achieve is more your friend than your boss. In some high schools, the special education department can treat you like you have to do this or you will not succeed. At Achieve they can’t force you to do anything but they encourage it in a very friendly way. They will let you know what to do and where to do it in order to be a successful student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Not only do they teach you how to be a successful student, but they teach you good habits that can affect your life in the future. They teach you organization skills and help you plan out your day so you can get everything done and still get enough sleep so you’re read for the next day.

Over all, Achieve is a very good program for students with learning disabilities. They offer everything from tutoring to getting a snack in between classes. They treat you with respect and help you get everything you need done in order to make your college experience a great one.