Achieve at Highline College

A certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities

What is Achieve?

A community college certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Includes:

• credit and non-credit classes
• intensive advising
• involvement in campus life
• participation in work-based learning and internships
• linkage to adult service agencies
• and access to job placement services

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Program Eligibility

1. Want a job and a community college experience
2. Be interested in obtaining an Achieve Certificate
3. Be at least 18 years of age (can be enrolled in a K-12 transition program) 
4. Have an intellectual disability
5. Be willing to follow program timelines including taking approved classes
6. Be eligible and willing to apply for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services*
7. Be able to navigate campus independently after training OR hire a personal caregiver

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What is an Achieve Certificate?

Fast Track to Employment – 1 year

Comprehensive Transition Certificate – 2 years

• Inclusive college classes
• Achieve Campus and Career classes
• Work-based learning experiences
• Connection to adult service agencies (DVR, DDA, S2W)
• Get on your career path, and path to further education and training

Intensive Advising

Each Achieve student is assigned an advisor who they meet weekly.

Advisors help students:

• Coordinate communication with the student’s support team and the college.
• Connect to resources like the tutoring center, public speaking center, and more.
• Keep on track with tasks like email, homework, and other college requirements.
• Help student to self-advocate with instructors, get accommodations, and modify Achieve-only courses.
• Support faculty in meeting the needs of Achieve students.

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Inclusive Classes

• Option to take any course offered by Highline
• Courses chosen by student with advisor approval and support to align with student goals and program requirements
• Option to take any course for full college credit or Achieve-only credit
• Achieve-only credit = modification of coursework or requirements.
• When taken for Achieve-only credit, Advisor, Student, and Instructor work together to modify class to meet student goals and strengths
• Students take 10-15 credits per quarter

Campus

Achieve students are fully immersed in the campus community.

• Campus engagement outside of class time is required weekly
• Peer Navigators support student engagement
• 50-60 student club options each year
• Club and Event Leaders
• Book Club
• Anime Club
• K-pop Club
• And More!

Diversity!

We are proud to be a part of such a diverse campus and community!

• Global Fest
• Global Student Ambassadors
• Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence
• Q Center

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Career

The components of our career curriculum are:

• Career Advising
• Work Based Learning
• Connection to Adult Service Agencies
• Access to a vendor

Work-Based Learning

• Goal-setting and tracking
• Job-shadowing and informational interviews
• Internships
• Skills to get a job
• Resume writing
• Interview practice
• Elevator Speeches
• Skill recognition

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Connection to Adult-Service Agencies

Support with connecting to employment services for those eligible before graduation:

• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
• Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
• School to Work Program (S2W)

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Access to Adult Service Agency Vendor

We have an embedded employment vendor in our department who you can choose as a vendor.

Schedules

• More independent time than high school
• Students learning how to manage and structure time
• Particularly learning what to do with free time
• Class schedule and goals create the rest of the schedule
• Classes have more work outside of class than inside
• Schedule time for student to engage in campus life this is a required part of the program.
• Often no classes on Fridays
• First year students typically on campus Monday-Thursday
• Second year students might only be on campus 2 days per week if focusing on work and job skills

Example Schedule - 1st year student

Example Schedule - 2nd year student

Funding

1. . K-12 Transition Program Funding – Determined by School District IEP team. Achieve cannot tell districts to pay. We have worked with 13 local school districts and one local Tribe since 2011. Make sure to talk with your district early!
2. Private pay - Full Highline tuition. Currently based on number of credits. Students generally take 10-15 credits per quarter.  
3. Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Only available for students that have exited the k-12 system, and meet income requirements. Students must have an intellectual disability to receive this aid for Achieve. Achieve does not make these decisions. Achieve students are not eligible for WAFSA
4. DVR – Determined by DVR counselor based on the student’s employment goals and plan (less typical). Short-term funding agency with goal of employment.

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Contact Us!�

For questions or to schedule a visit, please contact us at:

Achieve@highline.edu

(206) 592-3526

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Our applications and school district referrals for the 26-27 school year are due February 14, 2026!

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For more information, visit our website: https://Achieve.highline.edu