The Watson Institute Partners with Mercyhurst College to Offer Summer Residential Program to Acclimate Students with Asperger's Syndrome to College

The Watson Institute's ACCLAIM Program will be offered as a residential summer program at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA in 2010.  ACCLAIM is specifically designed for college-bound teenagers with Asperger's Disorder and high-functioning Autism Disorder.  The program focuses on the development of skills necessary to succeed at college and includes therapeutic, learning and social components. 

Mercyhurst College's Learning Differences Program has been in existence for 25 years.  Service to students with educational and economic needs is integral to the Mercy tradition, so helping those with special needs and giving attention to diverse learners was a natural outgrowth of the college's mission.  Mercyhurst is among the first schools in the region to specifically address the needs of students with Asperger's Syndrome, operating a pilot program during the 2008-09 school year called The Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM).  Mercyhurst's Asperger's support program is built upon a foundation of self-advocacy, social skills and sound academic progress.  Students interact with faculty and a qualified staff of professionals from throughout the campus and receive a full complement of social and educational services.  Eight students are enrolled in AIM this school year.

"Because of their commitment to help students with Asperger's Syndrome, having the ACCLAIM program at Mercyhurst is a natural fit" said Joe McAllister, Director of Psychological Services at The Watson Institute.  "We look forward to a productive partnership."

The ACCLAIM program at Mercyhurst will be the first residential ACCLAIM camp experience offered by The Watson Institute.  Watson's ACCLAIM program, one of the first in the country to address the needs of this population of students, is in its third year and will also offer summer day programs at The University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris University and Community College of Allegheny County.