The National Center for Education Statistics found in 2013, the six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree at a four-year degree-granting institution was 59 percent. While this statistic may be no surprise to educators, there is even more work to be done for another group of students.
The National Longitudinal Transition Study shows just 34.2 percent of students with learning disabilities complete a four-year degree within eight years of graduating high school. To eliminate this struggle for several students with disabilities looking to turn their tassel at graduation, the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) and Tangram, a life-coaching program have partnered.
Steve O’dore, executive director of Tangram, a program designed for individuals with learning differences, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Asperger syndrome, ineffective social skills and career challenges, said the partnership has evolved over the past three years.
“When we began searching for life-coaching partners, we looked at several universities and UIndy seemed to be the furthest along because they already had a program in addition to special services,” said O’dore. “Quite frankly, we were looking for people who had the same interest and passion we have.”
Through the Tangram life-coaching program, students receive support from family members, a personal life coach and a clinician. The group compiles a quality of life assessment, compares that plan to the student’s current life status and develops an effective way to reach goals, which may center around graduation, job planning, overcoming social issues and other sectors of developing as a young person. Students can enroll in the program at any point during their college career for free due to grant funding. Tangram is part of a larger grant-funded project that is made possible by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
O’dore said although Tangram works with private clients who may attend other universities, the program is exclusive to UIndy. Currently the program is looking to expand to other universities.
“Our real purpose for finding grant money, is to demonstrate by using this coaching model, we can produce a higher percentage of on-time graduates that isn’t typical without coaching. We had all 10 of our students graduate on time as opposed to the typical graduation rate,” mentioned O’dore.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities finds 94 percent of high school students with learning disabilities get some assistance, just 17 percent of learning-disabled college students do and are more likely to drop out.
Scott McGuire, past graduate of UIndy said the Tangram life-coaching program has helped him feel more independent, despite his diagnosis of severe dyslexia.
“My experience has been very helpful and it’s been life changing,” said McGuire in a testimonial interview. “She (McGuire’s coach, Megan Lauman) helps me with my academics, asks me where I want to go and what are my goals. She’s there to specifically help me in any area of my life.”
Another service the program provides helps students land a job after they’ve graduated.
Lindsey Hill, marketing manager said the Tangram Workforce Accelerator program is a database to help students find a position that best fits their needs. Another program offered, Tangram Business Resourcing, works with businesses to help them become more disability inclusive in their hiring practices.
“We built workforce accelerator because we saw a need for businesses to access the school of disabilities and veterans but we also saw a need for those with disabilities to be connected with businesses for competitive employment,” said Hill. “As it relates to the life-coaching program, all of our clients searching for a job are able to access that program database.”
Job candidates build a profile, which takes into account interests, education and skill level.
“It hits on things very important to those with disabilities such as, is the job on a transportation line,” mentioned Hill. It’s geared toward removing those barriers that have historically existed and it also helps businesses because it matches them with the right candidate for the right position.”
For more information on the Tangram life-coaching program, visit Tangramlifecoaching.org.
