LEESBURG, FL (352today.com) – For the second consecutive year, Beacon College, the Leesburg institution of higher learning dedicated to providing a focused and productive education environment for those with various learning differences, has made the Forbes Accessibility 200 List of “leading innovators and impact-makers in accessibility for people with disabilities.”

“This international recognition reflects Beacon’s devotion to educating students with learning differences combined with unparalleled support services for our students,” said Dr. George Hagerty, Beacon’s president, in a statement. “The honor affirms the hard work of Beacon students and the tireless dedication of our faculty and staff to their success. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain steadfast in providing a transformative educational experience for our students.”

Beacon College, which was founded in 1989 and is nationally recognized for the way its model accommodates and prepares those who learn differently, was one of only six higher education institutions to make the Forbes Accessibility 200.

According to the announcement, “Beacon College’s holistic model integrates rigorous academics with personalized support designed to foster student success.”

Key components of its accessibility framework include:

  • Beginning in high school, Beacon’s Center for College Readiness offers transition programs, including on-campus summer experiences, virtual learning, and in-person dual enrollment.
  • The Triadic Developmental Model—an integrated, student-centered approach connecting each learner with a three-member support team spanning preparation, academic engagement, and campus life—to strengthen persistence, retention, and overall student success.
  • Universal accommodations embedded across all academic programs, including
    • Step-by-step instructions delivered verbally and in writing with electronic or printed lecture notes
    • Assistive technology support
    • Testing options in a quiet, monitored room, including acces to a reader
    • Calculator use, when appropriate
    • Ready access to instructors for clarification 
  • Academic support services that promote engagement, completion and effective use of learning strategies. At the Center for Student Success, students meet weekly with learning specialists who serve as acacemic and developmental mentors.
  • A dedicated team of mental health counselors providing short-term individual and group counseling, skill-building workshops, crisis intervention, and on-campus screenings.
  • An on-staff occupational therapist working with students, faculty and learning specialists to enhance accessibility and integrate assistive technology.
  • A Sensory and Mindfulness Room offering a quiet space for students to decompress and refocus.

Beacon has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Peterson’s Gide and Best Value Schools.