LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A new dual enrollment course is helping neurodivergent students gain confidence and college credit in Lake County.
Beacon College and Lake County Schools are working together to get results for neurodivergent students through the Learning Essentials and Self Discovery Dual Enrollment Course.
Beacon College is located in downtown Leesburg and is exclusively dedicated to undergrad students who learn differently than others.
According to Merriam-Webster, “neurodivergent” is defined as having or related to a disorder or condition (such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia or OCD) that impacts the way the brain processes information.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
As part of a pilot program, the dual enrollment course is being offered to neurodivergent students at South Lake High School and Leesburg High School for Spring 2025.
Leesburg High Student, Janel Lopez Rymond is in the class and said she’s learning how to communicate her learning needs. She said prior to taking this class, she was scared of the idea of college.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to communicate — because it’s just going to be me and my little IEP in the corner, I’d say,” Lopez Rymond said. “This class will help me. I really want it to help me so I’m more achievable in the span of college and in life.”
Since taking the class, Lopez Rymond said she is excited to go to college and wants to attend Lake Tech for cosmetology.
Leesburg High School’s class is small, only four students. This allows the instructor, Rosalyn Castile, plenty of time to dive into topics designed to help neurodivergent students to succeed.
”They are thriving,” Castile said. “All of my students are thriving, taking notes and learning techniques. And again, as I spoke, having a creator mindset and taking responsibility is what they need to do and responsibility for their education.”
The partnership with Lake County Schools is Beacon College’s first time offering dual enrollment.
According to Beacon’s website, the college is the first in the nation accredited to award bachelor’s degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities and ADHD.
Interim Dean of Academics at Beacon College, Rosemary DeJarnette, said this class helps neurodivergent students get a feel for the college experience.
“Students are really able to build that confidence, to feel comfortable understanding this is what the college work looks like,” DeJarnette said. “This is how I’m going to have to prepare to ask for accommodations. But they’re also able to get those accommodations with our coursework, our courses, in a comfortable setting.”
To learn more about Beacon College’s programs, click here.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: