HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, will receive a two-year, $150,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council to assist HACC’s Office of Disability Services in developing new collegewide approaches to assist students with developmental disabilities and guide them toward future success.

The grant funds will allow the College to change the nature of disability services by providing a clear pathway from college life to job training and by teaching career development skills needed for employment. The two-year project will focus on students with developmental disabilities.

One HACC student noted, “Being special needs doesn’t mean you don’t have limits… because I am limited doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams!”

In a 2013 focus group conducted by the Dauphin County Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities program, students with a variety of developmental disabilities noted barriers to success, such as lack of peer mentoring opportunities, difficulty juggling school and work, difficulty paying for college and a long process for earning a diploma or certificate.

The project will begin on July 1, 2014, and continue through June 30, 2016. Any systemic changes at HACC will be based on a needs assessment. In addition, HACC will evaluate the program continually to improve and expand it.

About HACC

HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, offers more than 150 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to nearly 20,000 students at campuses in Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York and through online classes. In addition, HACC serves more than 29,000 students in noncredit workforce development, public safety, adult basic education and continuing education programs offered at all campuses and off-site locations in many communities in Central Pennsylvania. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit www.hacc.edu.