Closing the Gap

As a nonprofit organization, ACCESS Group Inc. relies on the support of individuals, corporations and foundations to close the gap between the true cost of our programs and services for children and youths with learning disabilities and the revenues for those services.

Educating and caring for people with learning disabilities is an expensive endeavor. ACCESS helps families pay for their children’s highly specialized medical and educational needs by asking others in our community to give financial assistance for operational and program expenses.

Operational funds contribute to ACCESS’ ability to provide comprehensive services, such as:

• An in-house evaluation team
• Highly qualified, professional teachers and therapists
• Affordable training for professionals in the community and surrounding states
• Free or low-cost teacher inservice training at local schools
• Free or low-cost parent training
• Affordable therapy materials for other professionals
• Consultation services for educational technology
• Tuition assistance for families who struggle financially
• Bimonthly and monthly social and recreational activities for three different age groups
• Extracurricular activities such as the ACCESS swim, track and cheerleading teams and drama, music and art programs

Program funds allow ACCESS to expand and improve educational, therapeutic, technological and health and wellness programs, as well as ACCESS retail enterprises.

In the 2008-2009 fiscal year, about 50 students, or one-third of the ACCESS student body, received tuition assistance. More than 300 individuals were served through the ACCESS Evaluation and Resource Center and ACCESS Therapy. ACCESS leaders traveled to more than five conferences, sharing their expertise with other special educators around the state and region. Additionally, ACCESS enjoyed 100 percent board member participation in annual giving during this period.

Join the many ACCESS supporters who continue to “close the gap” and enrich the lives of Arkansans and others with learning disabilities. Donate or volunteer today!