College Living Experience is a college program for students with special needs
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Summer Program

CLE Summer Program 2009 Now Enrolling!

The 2009 The College Living Experience (CLE) Summer Program will be held at CLE in Denver June 28 through July 18, 2009.

About the CLE Summer Program

The CLE Summer Program for special needs students offers a preview of independent living in a college environment, with intensive support to build the academic, social and independent living skills needed for higher education – and for life.

During a three-week summer program, high school seniors and graduates with Asperger’s, autism, ADD and learning disabilities attend classes and learn to use adaptive technology that will help them be successful college students. All students take "Introduction to College" for credit. They can also take remedial math and English classes in addition to a variety of noncredit courses as they explore academic and career possibilities.

The CLE summer program for students with special needs includes structured activities, supervised by CLE advisors, that help students develop their social skills and make fulfilling and appropriate friendships with peers and adults. Mentors and instructors facilitate opportunities for students to put their social skills into practice in order to make new friends and gain self-confidence.

During the summer program for students with special needs, students enhance their independent living skills by sharing a dormitory suite with a roommate, planning and preparing many of their own meals, keeping their suite clean, and doing their own laundry with assistance from CLE staff.

Denver Hosts Summer Program

Denver, one of the country’s most beautiful and dynamic cities, hosts the CLE Summer Program for students with learning disabilities and special needs. Students can easily enjoy all Denver has to offer while studying at the Auraria Education Center, home to the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College and University of Colorado at Denver. The Auraria Education Center, CLE and student residences are located just blocks from each other in downtown Denver and students can walk, bike, ride public transportation or take a shuttle bus to shops, cafes, concert venues and other destinations around town.

Within a short drive of CLE, dozens of year-round parks and ski areas offer mountain biking, rock climbing, fly fishing and horseback tours of the Rocky Mountains, which are as spectacular in summer as they are in winter.

The summer program for special needs students draws visitors from all over the United States and other parts of the world. The most recent program hosted 30 guests from 12 states: Washington, Louisiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and California. The average age of students participating in the CLE summer program for special needs students is 17.

How to Enroll

Please submit an application by June 1 for Summer, 2009. Applications must be accompanied by a current psychological/educational evaluation. The program fee of $5,000 covers housing, meals, tuition and recreational activities. Students are responsible for their transportation to and from Denver and for their spending money of $50 per week. Students who are accepted by March 1 will receive a $500 discount as an early registration bonus.

A $50 non-refundable application fee and a $1,000 deposit are due at the time of application to hold one space.  If for any reason your application is not accepted or the student withdraws by May 1, the $1,000 deposit is fully refundable.  All remaining fees are due by May 1. Students and their parents can contact CLE-Denver at 303-825-2533 or apply online.

Students and their parents can contact CLE-Denver at (303) 825-2533 or complete an application online.