Springfield, IL….This week, the Illinois House advanced legislation authored by State Representative Elizabeth Coulson, which creates grant opportunities for students who participate in the Clinical Center Achieve Program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC).  The Achieve Program is a comprehensive academic support system designed to meet the needs of SIUC students with previously diagnosed learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

House Bill 168 would create grant opportunities for the cost of the Achieve Program, based on a needs-based formula determined by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.  Grant funding will be subject to appropriation included in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.

“The Achieve Program has been extremely successful since its inception in 1978.  Providing college students with learning disabilities with extra attention may make all the difference in the world to help them succeed.  During these tough economic times, grant opportunities will allow more students to participate in this great program,” Rep. Coulson said.

This legislation heads to the Senate for approval.