About Us - Accessible College

About ME

My Mission

The mission of Accessible College is to provide students with physical disabilities and health conditions and their families with supports to ensure a successful transition to and through higher education.

Annie Tulkin, MS: Founder and Director

I am the Founder and Director of Accessible College, as well as an author and public speaker. I’m an expert in the area of college transition for students with physical disabilities and health conditions. I found my passion for working with students with disabilities when I was the Associate Director of the Academic Resource Center at Georgetown University. For over 5 years, I assisted undergraduate, graduate, medical school students with physical disabilities and health conditions with the college accommodations process; provided one-on-one consultations to students experiencing academic challenges; coordinated tutoring services for undergraduate students; scheduled and taught study skills workshops; and worked collaboratively with Residential Living to assist students with physical disabilities and health conditions who were seeking housing to meet their needs. While at Georgetown, I discovered that many of the students I worked with had not received transition supports to prepare them for the transition to college with a physical disability and/or health condition.

I’ve worked in the disability field for most of my professional career. Most recently I was a Regional Disability Coordinator for Humanitas, Inc. working on the Job Corps disability support contract for The Department of Labor. In that role I provided trainings and oversaw disability compliance at Job Corps centers across the United States. I was also a Project Specialist with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). I’ve worked with both the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) and University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Technical Assistance projects. Prior to working for AUCD, I was a Fulbright Fellow in Mongolia, where I conducted research on Mongolian teachers’ perceptions of disability in the classroom.

I earned a certificate in Health Coaching from Georgetown University in 2014. I completed a Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008. I graduated from DePaul University, Chicago with a degree in Secondary Education in 2003, and served in the United States Peace Corps, Choibalsan City, Mongolia 2003-2005. I’m also a certified Spin (indoor cycling) instructor. When I’m not doing arts and crafts with my daughter and husband, I enjoy gardening, cooking, and hiking.

Accessible College understands the unique needs of students with physical disabilities and health conditions and the challenges that may arise as they plan for their transition to college. Because colleges and universities provide varying levels of support and accommodations for students with disabilities and health conditions, Accessible College’s services help to bridge the gaps, empowering students and families to effectively work together to create positive educational experiences for students and support college success.

The needs of your student come first, and there are many issues to consider. My goal is to provide your student with guidance, using a step-by-step process to help ensure a successful transition into higher education and a lifetime of transferable tools.

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Memberships

Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC)

Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources (WISER)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

Partners

College Consultants that I have worked with

Organizations

Organizations that I have collaborated with

Testimonials

Faced with the multiple potential barriers at any campus our daughter chose, we could not anticipate or navigate the possibilities without the informed and wise strategies and direction Annie was able to provide. Phase 1 of our custom package included helping us determine what accommodations we needed and how to justify them, formulating questions for the disability services providers at each college, and how to ask those questions so we could see how they responded, as well as the actual answers provided. We look forward to working with Annie during our continued phases as our daughter starts her journey and gains her independence in her quest to pursue higher education. Accessible College is an invaluable resource for navigating challenging and non-traditional territories.

Pam Venn

Parent, St. Louis, MO., June 2020. Student class of 2025.

Annie Tulkin’s knowledge and experiences provide her with the ability to discuss and address the complex arena of inclusive higher education in a clear and succinct way that provides tangible next steps for success.

Josie Badger

DHCE, CRC, J Badger Consulting President and RAISE Co-Director, May 2020.