For Students With Learning Differences
The Achieve Program
Achieve is Western New York’s only specialized program for students with learning differences at the college level. The Achieve Program provides support for neurodiverse students and students with learning differences, focusing on academic skills, targeted areas of executive function, and career readiness. At Achieve, we look at students’ needs individually with a holistic approach to help develop a plan for students’ transitions to college and career. Through working with the Achieve Program, students can build their confidence as they gain independence and learn strategies critical to the collegiate level.
Assistive Technology
Achieve students have unlimited access to Glean, Microsoft dictate and read aloud, and Livescribe Pens and Notebooks, and other tools they’ll need to complete classwork and prepare for exams.
A Team Approach
The Achieve team takes a collaborative approach to working with students. This helps to create the best learning environment possible for every student and sets our program apart.
Proven Solutions
The Achieve Program assists students with learning differences in developing executive functions, self-advocacy, and goal-setting skills. Other solutions include facilitation of content tutoring, skill building workshops, and career readiness. Since 2022, over 85% of students in the Achieve Program have maintained a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Career Readiness
The Career Readiness Program was designed to help Achieve students improve their career readiness skills in preparation for the transition from college to career. The program utilizes one-on-one coaching and specialized workshops to explore majors, career paths, skills/strengths assessments, and part-time jobs to help build their resumes and gain experience.
Tuition and Fees
The Achieve Program’s robust support system is fee-based and goes beyond these standard accommodations. It works with students who struggle with common obstacles like procrastination, time management, and prioritization.
- College tuition per semester (full-time): $12,350
- College tuition per credit hour (part-time): $820
- Achieve Program cost: $2,500 per semester*
Students enrolled in the Achieve Program have exclusive and unlimited access to the Achieve Center, located in the brand new Scott Bieler Center for Academic Excellence. This includes classrooms and computer workstations, experienced staff specializing in learning differences, assistive technology with ongoing support and training to maximize their use, and personalized support for students’ entire time at Villa. The Achieve Center is open to students whenever they are on campus and the building is open. Even between classes or learning sessions, Achieve students can use the Center as a quiet place to do their work or study.
*Financial assistance may be available and can be discussed case-by-case.
See for yourself.
All colleges and universities are required to provide accommodations to students with disabilities, including learning disabilities. These services, which are free of charge to students, are meant to help students with documented learning disabilities like ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism spectrum disorder, and other disabilities have a level academic playing field with their peers. The Achieve Program is a fee-based program that goes above and beyond what is required by law, and also works with students who struggle with common obstacles, like procrastination, time management and prioritization.
Our Staff.
Join the family.
Most Importantly, Villa’s Achieve Students Feel Like Their Success is Possible
“My learning differences made it challenging for me to understand everything I was being taught. Achieve gave me the opportunity to continue to get the help I had been used to receiving in high school at the college level. Because of my drive to do well, and with the help of the tutors in the Achieve Program, I’m on my way to attaining my goals while maintaining a 3.2 GPA or higher grade until graduation. Through the school’s and Achieve’s help, I know I will soon have a successful Graphic Arts/Creative Writing career.”
— Rebecca Kendall, Graphic Design, ’20
