University of Cincinnati

Name of Program: Transition and Access Program (TAP)

College/University: University of Cincinnati (UC) - UC offers students a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience. UC is a public research university with an enrollment of more than 46,000 students and has been named “among the Best National Universities,” according to U.S. News & World Report.

Email: c

Website: http://cech.uc.edu/education/ats/tap.html

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP) Status: Approved

Annual Costs:

Tuition and Fees: $18,594
Room and Board: $12,000
Additional costs for housing, meal plans, and UC elective courses

What is TAP?:

The Transition and Access Program (TAP) is a four-year college education for students with mild to moderate intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) that embraces the University of Cincinnati’s strategic direction of Next Lives Here making a positive impact on the world, promoting diversity and inclusion. TAP is emerging as a leader in creating an authentic inclusive living-learning opportunity that builds career skills, academic achievement, personal responsibility, social networks, and a promising future. TAP students earn a university-recognized certificate upon completion of the four-year program.

TAP students live in inclusive residence halls and have access to all that UC has to offer. What better way to increase independence and engage in a vibrant community!
TAP students have multiple opportunities to work in internships, engage in career exploration, and ultimately gain meaningful employment.
TAP students are UC students first and learning is a priority. The TAP curriculum focuses on the whole person and helps develop personal goals, social capital, healthy living skills, and self-advocacy.
TAP students are leaders. Students are actively involved in student organizations and develop effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to become strong community leaders.

Students develop a vision for their life and their life trajectory serves as the foundation for person-centered planning. Annually, students, TAP staff, family participate in a conference to review their goals, successes, and new opportunities. As a Capstone, seniors present their digital website that documents their college path and future plans post-graduation.

What are the academic services offered to TAP students?

Students are enrolled in TAP program courses designed to support them in developing skills that will lead to independence in establishing community connections, independent living, employment, social relationships, and lifelong learning. Students are taught and equipped to become their own decision-makers. Course curriculum has been developed to sequence skills development and to allow for ample practice of skills over the four years across the university experience
TAP program courses are taught by well-qualified faculty and are taken for credit. Students access their syllabus or assignments through CANVAS, UC’s learning management system. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor and faculty during office hours for individualized needs.

Students also enroll in 1-6 credit hours of elective UC courses as audit or credit. Some examples of courses have included: Public Speaking, Women and Men’s Chorus, Introduction to Child Development, ASL, History, Basic Drawing, Basic Painting, Interpersonal Relationships, Stress Management, Physical Conditioning, Basketball, Tennis, Yoga, Individuals with Exceptionalities, IT Computer Applications, Acting for Non-Majors, Stage Lighting and Sound, Live at CCM, African American History, American Military History, Introduction to Sports Medicine, Communication in Problem Solving Groups, Ballet, and Animal Diversity.

Students will be enrolled in the TAP Academic Support class which meets twice a week with an academic coach to support them in completing course assignments and reviewing materials for their electives. The TAP Academic Coordinator supports students in completing an audit agreement with the faculty, supports students in registering with Accessibility Resources, and helps monitor progress in courses.

Students attend weekly study tables for additional support. Students access the Writing Center, ASL Lab, Math Lab, IT lab, and take advantage of success skills workshops.

Students enrolled in TAP must complete a minimum of 96 credit hours, develop a digital portfolio, and have a minimum of 4 semesters of internships.

What employment experiences are available to TAP students?

TAP students have multiple opportunities to engage in career exploration and work-based learning experiences including paid or unpaid internships or Co-Op 2.0 experiences, with the goal of ultimately gaining meaningful competitively paid employment. TAP students are advised to enroll in elective courses that may further their knowledge and skills and match their general career pathways such as, childcare, horticulture, hospitality/customer service, office/clerical, theater, facilities management, and STEM-related career pathways

Types of Internships

Teacher assistants, IT project manager, Office assistants, Sports manager, Grounds keeper, Radio station support person

What employment services and supports are provided?

Students begin with person-centered planning to identify career goals.
Students will take a Vocational Exploration Course during their first year which offers job-shadowing, a career interest inventory, and identification of future career paths.
Students have paid/unpaid internships beginning sophomore year. They are also encouraged to select their elective courses based on their career paths.
Students are paired with a job coach or natural support to promote independence in the workplace.
Students access the career center to practice interviewing skills, use Handshake to look for internships, employment, and to build a resume.
Students identify their career interests through their vocational courses. A job developer identifies internships for students.
Students are supported in using public transportation to job sites off–campus.
Students are encouraged to work with their Vocational Rehabilitation counselors to extend employment and resources beyond the academic year

What is it like for a TAP student to live on campus?

Students live in the newest fully inclusive university residence halls with a dining hall and a coffee shop steps away.
Freshmen and sophomores live in the residence halls with suite-style rooms. Juniors live in residence halls with apartment-style accommodations. Students are encouraged to live off-campus senior year as part of preparing for the transition beyond college.
Resident Advisors (RAs) are available for support along with other typical services provided by residence life programs. In addition, students are assigned TAP Residential Life Coaches. The Life Coaches live in the residence halls and are assigned a cohort of students at the beginning of the academic year. Life Coaches set weekly individual meetings with each of their assigned students for the purposes of supporting each student with setting and achieving independent living and social goals.
Students engage in TAP courses designed to teach the skills required to live independently and socialize successfully in the campus and surrounding communities.
Students are members of student organizations such as Rally Cats, Pokeman club, H20, CHAARGE, and attend sporting events, places of worship, campus activities, and have traveled to away games.
As with any college student, they are responsible for doing their own laundry, shopping for necessary items, taking care of their own personal needs.
Students have full access to the university health center and counseling services.
The TAP program has embedded many unique supports to assist students as they learn and grow during their four years at college. These include:
1. Summer Workshop – orientation for new students and parents
2. Residential Life Coaches
3. TAP specific courses designed to increase executive function, social competence, self-regulation, and independent living skills
4. Weekly Learning Communities
5. Monthly Community Living meetings
6. Peer coaches
7. One-to-one (1:1) individual meetings with the Campus Life Coordinator to boost skills needed to become an engaged UC community member (as needed) and for targeted social learning growth.

What counseling and supports are available for your students with ID?

The TAP staff is a diverse team including a director, three professional level coordinators: Academic, Campus Life, and Vocational along with well-qualified faculty, undergraduate and graduate students serving as coaches. Students can access university counseling, Title IX. The wellness center, tutoring, career center, health services, campus transportation, accessibility resources, technology, and academic supports.