SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College is accepting applications for its new B.E.L.L. (Bridge to Earning, Learning & Living) Academy to be held in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties.

B.E.L.L. Academy is for adults (at least 18 years old) with intellectual/developmental disabilities who have been referred by high school exceptional education teachers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and academic advisors and guidance counselors.

B.E.L.L. Academy's emphasis is on improving reading, writing, math, and computer skills; helping adults become more independent; and offering hands-on, real-life career experiences.

Hands-on career experiences include culinary (baked goods), customer service assistant, gardening, hospitality/housekeeping assistant, and office assistant.

B.E.L.L. Academy will be located at the Siler City Center in Chatham County, The ARC in Harnett County, and the Lifelong Learning Center at W.B. Wicker in Lee County.

For more information, people can contact Dawn Tucker, CCCC Dean of College and Career Readiness, at 919-718-7437 or by email at dmtucker@cccc.edu.

People may also contact Daniel Loges (CCCC College and Career Readiness Coordinator in Chatham County) at 919-545-8661 or dloges@cccc.edu, or Melody McGee (CCCC College and Career Readiness Coordinator in Harnett County) at 910-814-8972 or mmcgee@cccc.edu, or Sandra Thompson (CCCC College and Career Readiness Coordinator in Lee County) at 919-777-7726 or smthompson@cccc.edu.

The summer bootcamp session will begin July 11 in all three counties.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.