ARISE Support Program

Our learning resource specialists work with students, families, counselors and teachers to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to maximize the student's learning abilities. This program is for students who have been evaluated by a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist or other health practitioner; have testing and a history that substantiates the need for accommodations; and have a diagnosed medical, mental health, attention-deficit or learning disability. 

Students must have current and appropriate documentation to qualify for accommodations. Documentation must either be a psychoeducational evaluation, or a letter from the provider on official letterhead that includes the impact of the diagnosis, the degree and duration of the disability(ies), as well as any functional limitations that are directly linked to and support the need for any requested accommodations. 

Our learning resource specialists meet regularly with all students that have accommodations to ensure their needs are being appropriately met and to provide resources and strategies to enhance their learning.

The counseling team and our learning resource specialists work closely together to support students. The teams meet regularly to identify current trends in student experience and students who may need additional support in their classes. Counselors may refer a student to meet with our learning resource specialists for short or long term support in building and strengthening academic skills and habits.

Academic Seminar is a class specifically for freshmen and is taught by our learning resource specialists. The goal of Academic Seminar is to assist freshmen in further developing the inner qualities, outer behaviors and academic strategies necessary to achieve their individual academic goals. Moreover, the class provides them with consistent adult and peer support throughout their academic journey. Our curriculum uses the 16 Habits of Mind as a framework for discussions, lessons and activities which foster accountability for their learning and help solidify skills they will use in their content area courses. Lessons and topics include reading and note taking strategies, metacognitive reflection, managing impulsivity with tech tools, persistence, goal setting and email etiquette. Placement in this program is determined through collaboration between our admissions committee, learning resource specialists and the student’s academic counselor.

An independent study, online course in American Sign Language (ASL) is offered as a modern language alternative for our students with appropriate documentation of a diagnosed language-based learning disability (e.g. dyslexia, apraxia, auditory processing disorder etc…). Formal documentation, as well as a recommendation in a psychoeducational report or recommendations from a Notre Dame learning resource specialist, is required to enroll in this course.