Dear Readers,

The end of a year lends itself to reflection, and the Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) is indulging in a bit of that. We are proud of what we and our partners and colleagues have accomplished this year and wish to acknowledge the work being done to make postsecondary education a reality for more students with intellectual disability. As we embark on our 13th year as the NCC, we marvel at all we have learned, all we as a community together have done, and look forward to all that we will continue to do in the year ahead. 

- Cate Weir,

Project Manager, National Coordinating Center

Below are the year’s 10 most popular activities and accomplishments identified by Think College staff. We didn't rank them because they are of equal weight in terms of importance.

Did we skip something? Let us know on one of our social media channels (see below)!

The Think College Policy Advocates (TCPA) gathered in person for the first time since COVID began. In June 2022, 10 teams of program staff and students with ID went to Washington, DC to learn about advocacy and raise awareness of postsecondary education opportunities. Read more about TCPA and how you can become one. 

This year, Think College hired 9 new staff members with unique talents, skills, and interests. New to the team (left to right) Shelby Bates, Susanna Miller-Raines, Danie Roberts-Dahm, Arin Rook, Sara Pound, Chelsea Stinnet, Caitlyn Bukaty, Irina Cain, and Mindy Lingo. Read staff bios.

In July, 100 members from Transition Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSID) and Think College staff gathered in-person for the first time since the cohort was funded in October 2020. Over the two days, we held general and concurrent sessions on data, accreditation, state and federal policy, student conduct, comprehensive postsecondary transition programs, supporting faculty, dignity of risk, and more. It was an energizing and inspiring experience! Read more.

Staff spread the word about inclusive postsecondary education in 3 podcasts in 2022. Meg Grigal and Cate Weir talked to Tim Villegas, host of the Think Inclusive podcast, in the episode Inclusive Higher Education for People with ID. Cate and Debra Hart talked with Annette Hines for a special spotlight episode of Parenting Impossible. Danie Roberts-Dahm appeared on College, Disabilities, and Success with Mickie Hayes.

IPSE Day is a day to tell the world postsecondary education is an option for students with ID. It’s a day to celebrate students with ID in college, preparing to go to college, and alumni. Check out the dozens of photos and posts on Facebook and Twitter.

Missed it? Don’t worry, IPSE Day 2023 is coming soon.

In January 2022, we hired our first intern from an inclusive college program, Rachel Adams-Duffy. Rachel was a sophomore in the Turning Point Program at Bergen Community College when she started with us—and she graduated from Turning Point in May 2022. Rachel participated in the Emerging Advocates group and wrote some great blog posts. Read Rachel’s blog posts.

Way back in 2017, the NCC created affinity groups as a place for people with common interests to gather to discuss, share, and collaborate on key issues and topics related to inclusive postsecondary education. We kicked off with 3 groups and today, we have 12!

Find the group(s) right for you at ThinkCollege.Net.

On September 1, the field of inclusive higher education was on a national stage at the College Football Hall of Fame. That evening the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) presented Think College with an award at the Big Game Ball. We were so excited to be acknowledged for the work we do to promote and support inclusive higher education by the NDSC! Read more.

This year, we increased our reach to thousands by establishing two new social media accounts. Join LinkedIn to stay informed of emerging trends, training and educational events, employment opportunities, and more. Visit our Instagram for facts, fun, upcoming events, conferences pics, and more. And don’t forget to leave comments and likes! We’ll be expanding our reach even further in 2023. Look out for an announcement in the spring. Until then, you'll just have to watch the clock go tick tock.

After 2 years of staying home and only connecting on Zoom, we found many ways to gather in person in 2022! A full-team meeting in Boston, the annual TPSID project directors meeting, a strategic planning retreat for the knowledge translation team, numerous national and regional conferences and transition fairs. Think College Policy Advocates in Washington, DC, and even a trip to Austria for the European State-Of-The-Art Congress on Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programmes for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.