ACAP at South Arkansas Community College

The ACAP (Academic and Career Achievement Program) program at South Arkansas Community College is a two-year innovative post-secondary initiative for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental disabilities (DD) who desire inclusion in the academic, social, and cultural college experience in a supportive environment. The program serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (as defined by Statute 20 U.S.C 1140(2)) who are currently (or were formerly) eligible for a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and have completed a high school program.

The ACAP Program embraces the principles of access and equity to all opportunities in society, and promotes the advancement of academic knowledge, social skills, independent living skills, and career options for individuals with disabilities. The structure of the program most closely aligns with the inclusive individual support model described by Hart, Grigal, Sax, Martinez, and Will (2006).

ACAP is a custom-tailored learning program that offers students a unique post-secondary opportunity to further their formal education and become self-reliant. The conceptual framework for the ACAP program depicts four standards as cornerstones of practice: Academic Access, Career Development, Campus Inclusion, and Self-Determination.

In addition, integration with the college system, coordination and collaboration, sustainability, and ongoing evaluation will be necessary to create a cohesive framework that will support the tenets of the Higher Education Opportunity Act and acknowledge the individualized services that will be required by students with DD/ID in post-secondary education.

The objective of the program is to enable students, while in a supportive college environment, to transition into greater and enhanced independent living through developmentally appropriate social, life, academic, and vocational skills. Students will learn how to meet daily challenges confidently and independently, and become productive citizens in the community.

The ultimate goal of the ACAP program is to allow students with DD/ID to have an inclusive college experience by attending classes, abiding by college rules and regulations, participating in school activities, clubs, and events, all while preparing for gainful employment after graduating from the program.