This international recognition reflects Beacon’s devotion to educating students with learning differences combined with unparalleled support services for our students. 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.
—Dr. George Hagerty, president
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 access 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 academic 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.
This latest honor continues a trend of growing national recognition for Beacon College and its specialized mission and its standing among accredited colleges and universities. Recent rankings include No. 21 among Regional Colleges in U.S. News & World Report, the No. 1 ranking in the Peterson’s Guide “20 Great Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities,” and No. 1 in Best Value Schools’ “20 Best Value Colleges for Learning Disabilities.”
Beacon College continues to set the standard for inclusive education, demonstrating that with the right support, students who learn differently can thrive in higher education and beyond.
About the Forbes Accessibility 200
The Accessibility 200 was compiled through interviews with more than 700 experts, along with an expert advisory panel. Emphasis was placed on breadth of true impact across the widest landscape. The final selections feature companies and individuals from more than 20 countries.
“Accessibility” is defined as products, software, and services that allow people with disabilities to have access to information, content, public spaces, employment, and life experiences. Examples include:
- Digital Accessibility: Features such as on-device text-to-speech, live captioning, and eye-control of devices like tablets
- Physical Accessibility: Wheelchair ramps, prosthetics, navigable doorways, home features, public transportation, and lighting
- Accessibility to Experiences: Access to employment, travel, healthcare, sports, education, hiking and other pursuits