‘Beyond Barriers’ program helps students with disabilities acclimate to college life

When Liberty University students arrive on campus for the first time, the first few days are filled with new adjustments. For students with disabilities, this transition period can present additional challenges. That’s why the Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS), under LU ONE, created the Beyond Barriers Summer Transition Program, an immersive 10-day early orientation program.

Fifteen new students arrived on campus on Sunday, Aug. 4, to participate in the Beyond Barriers program. Although residence halls don’t officially open to new students until Aug. 14, the students in the program were able to move in early to their residence halls, eat in the dining hall, and connect with fellow students in a variety of engaging activities. Families were invited to a parent dinner on Sunday night, and during the week, students have been attending workshops, information sessions on key services and departments across the university, interactive training to improve self-regulation and self-determination, and fun group events, including bowling and arts and crafts.

The program helps students through every step, from moving in and touring buildings to familiarizing themselves with LU Transit Services. Volunteers from different departments meet with each student one-to-one to walk them through their daily class route. Students also pick up their textbooks early, learn about some of the software and programs that Liberty uses, and can complete UNIV 101, a 1-credit introduction to college course required for all new Liberty students.

The Beyond Barriers program involves an application process and is open to any student with a documented disability, including autism, ADHD, chronic illness, and more.

“ODAS exists to ensure that all students with disabilities have equal access to the learning environment, so it is free from barriers,” ODAS Senior Executive Director Ester Warren said. “We are very committed to developing and implementing new initiatives and programs to help students in an individualized and student-centered way. My hope is that more students will learn about Beyond Barriers, and as they decide to come to Liberty, if they are diagnosed with a disability they will take advantage of this program.”

Warren created Beyond Barriers after seeing how her son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, struggled to adjust to college life.

“This program really answers all the questions that I would’ve wanted answered during my son’s transition to Liberty,” Warren said. “They can experience everything that there is to experience before it gets really, really crowded.”

This is the second year of the program, with last year’s students having an 87.7% success rate of completing their first year on campus.

Each student receives a peer mentor that will help walk alongside them as they acclimate to campus life. Joelle Frazee, a sophomore pursuing a B.S. in Psychology, completed the Beyond Barriers program in 2023. The empowerment she felt from the program led her to become a peer mentor herself this year.

“The program really made something possible that once seemed impossible. My peer mentor continued to be a very close friend and amazing mentor throughout the entire year,” Frazee said. “I want to be able to impact people the way I had been impacted, because having somebody that you can lean on going into an experience as unknown as college is huge, especially when you have a disability.”

Frazee went on to become the president of the Autism Advocates Club at Liberty, as well as an honors student. She said she wouldn’t have been so successful if it were not for the faith of her fellow Beyond Barriers students and the ODAS staff.

Angel Andino, an incoming freshman pursuing a B.M. in Commercial Music, said he is very grateful for the early transition program.

“It’s definitely helped me with the moving in aspect that I’m able to slowly move into college life and meet people who have similar interests as me,” he said. “For anyone with a disability, this is a really good program to choose. It’s incredible.”

Fellow freshman Gentry Rose Dowdy, who is pursuing a B.A. in History, said she was pleased to discover what is offered through ODAS.

“A lot of schools, when I looked into them, I didn’t see any program or club for people with disabilities,” Dowdy said. “At Liberty they have ODAS and the Autism Advocates club, and I thought, ‘This is where I want to go,’ because they have stuff for me. For any accommodations I need, they don’t say, ‘No, you can’t have this.’ They say, ‘OK, we will get this to you as soon as possible.’”

Cyndie and Tim Sullivan dropped off their son, Chase, on Aug. 4 and felt immense comfort knowing he was in good hands after meeting Warren and her team on a campus visit last April.

“When we reunited with Dr. Warren and her team on Sunday, we immediately felt at home and had a wonderful feeling of peace about leaving without Chase,” Tim said. “This can be a stressful transition for a young person, and the love and care shown by the Beyond Barriers team, giving each student personal attention, provides a pathway to success.”

Andino said he feels confident starting college because of the early assistance he has received.

“Liberty is different. There’s something special about it,” he said. “I went to different colleges, and they weren’t ‘it.’ Then when I went to Liberty, I just had such a good feeling when I stepped on campus. When I said goodbye to my parents, I felt safe and secure that I had something to stand on going forward. This program has given me everything I’ve needed.”