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Check it out! ⤵️ Data show that 65% of students enrolled in a federally funded Transition and Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disability, or TPSID, had paid work in 2022-23 through either paid employment or paid work-based learning experiences. 75% of students of those student graduated or completed their program! Find out what else we learned in our 2022-2023 TPSID Program Annual Report at https://buff.ly/4ft4TfU.

Open House(s) Alert! WCU University Participant (UP) Program ⬇️

Be sure to mark your calendars and get registered today to attend one of our Open House events this upcoming school year! 💜💛

Hey Floridians 🌴☀️ - FYI! ⤵️

Q: Are scholarships available every year for students?

A: Scholarship funds are available annually to eligible students who physically attend approved in a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program (FPCTP). Scholarships are available only to eligible students, defined as a student with an intellectual disability. Students must not be receiving services that are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program or a scholarship (i.e., Opportunity Scholarship Program, The Gardiner Scholarship, The John M. McKay Scholarship, or Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program). To maintain scholarship eligibility, students must show satisfactory academic progress (SAP). The FPCTP is responsible for requesting student scholarships from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (FCSUA) and must also determine the initial and continuing eligibility of their students to receive a FPCTP Scholarship.

This is for all you future college students out there 👋 - college IS an option! 🎓 Check out our publication called Voices of Experience, which features former college students with intellectual disability who share honest stories and things to think about when considering college, such as the location and size of the college, making good choices, social opportunities & peer mentors, being included, and more. Check it out and download for free at https://buff.ly/3SAaiIl

[ID: The Think College logo sits at the top of the graphic. Beneath it is the publication title 'Voices of Experience,' which sits alongside a green quote bubble with white text that reads "Inclusion is very important to me, and being accepted for who I am." Beside it, it reads "-Kaethe, discussing the importance of inclusion within her collegiate experience."]

, the ACE-IT in College program at Virginia Commonwealth University was recently accredited by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council - the third program in the nation to receive accreditation. 👏 Check out this article below to learn more ⬇️

🎉What a week it's been! We're so excited to close out this week of celebrating our accreditation by sharing a feature article on the RRTC website.

"The accreditation marks another major success in the program’s history. Thirty-eight students have graduated and earned their certificate of completion for ACE-IT. The program has a 90 percent post-graduation employment rate compared to the national employment average of 36.7% of people with disabilities."

Read the full article here: https://vcurrtc.org/about/features/feature.cfm?id=13

Image description (from the article): (Left to Right) Joshua, Aedan, Seth, and Tyler, incoming first-year ACE-IT students, posed for a quick photo to show off their VCU Cards during a summer Bridge-In event with ACE-IT.

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ACE-IT in College is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU RRTC), which is a part of the VCU School of Education.

Happy Friday! 🎉 Now that August is here, we know for many of you across the country back to school is creeping up - or may already even be here. One of our most popular resources, all about preparing students with intellectual disabilities for college, is available for free to print or download on our website at https://buff.ly/46tLffI. Do you have any tips that worked well for you or your student? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Did you know? 💡 In 2022-2023, 534 students with intellectual disability attended college through federally funded Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability, or TPSID, programs. This is over a 10% increase seen from the previous year's data! 👏 Learn more about what we learned from last year's TPSID cohort in our annual report at https://buff.ly/3SANrwm.

"The Ccs At Tcnj program has allowed me and empowered me to dream big to use my education to do what I want with my life." 👏 Meet our newest emerging advocate, Cobey 👋 ! Cobey will be joining us on Capitol Hill next year as a Think College Policy Advocate. Read more about Cobey's journey in higher education, and how he hopes to use his voice for advocacy, at https://buff.ly/4drwjkq! 🏛️

Congratulations to Nolan! 🎉 Nolan was one of several students proudly featured in our Public Awareness Campaign video. This beautiful note sent from his sister to our friends at RubysRainbow.org made our day -- Nolan not only helped raise awareness that college is an option for students with intellectual disability across the country, he also clearly made that known with an enormous impact on his own campus, too. Congratulations to Nolan and all of the KU Transition to Postsecondary Education graduates!

🎉 Congratulations to the team at ACE-IT in College at Virginia Commonwealth University for becoming the third program in the nation to become officially accredited by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC)! 💥 This is an extraordinary milestone and no small feat. The Think College National Coordinating Center looks forward to working with the IHEAC on future program accreditations.

Breaking news: ACE-IT in College at Virginia Commonwealth University has achieved an extraordinary milestone, becoming the first program in Virginia and the third in the nation to be fully accredited by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council .

We are ecstatic and grateful to share this historic moment with you all!

Thank you to every one of you who has helped us grow this program into what it has become. The seed was planted in 2010, and it continues to bloom.

We’re feeling unstoppable.

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ACE-IT in College is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU RRTC ), which is a part of the VCU School of Education.

July may be coming to a close, but here at Think College we celebrate all year long. 🎉 Hear from our very own knowledge translation specialist Sheila Johnson discuss her experience navigating the world with epilepsy in a wonderful disability pride month article written for our colleagues at the Institute for Community Inclusion: https://communityinclusion.tumblr.com/post/756441827591241728/epilepsy-warriors-our-bond-on-social-media

We're so proud to have Sheila on our team! 👏

July is Disability Pride Month! Hear from Institute for Community Inclusion knowledge translation specialist Sheila Johnson about her experience navigating the world with epilepsy: the struggles, unpredictability, and how she found an ally in social media: https://buff.ly/3YcVAdK

What does Disability Pride mean to you?

What a wonderful few days at the 2024 National Down Syndrome Congress Convention! 🎉 Think College was proud to sponsor and host this year's convention College Fair, as well as exhibit and present on inclusive higher ed opportunities. It was a great two days connecting with so many individuals with Down syndrome and their families. We'll look forward to sharing the photos from the College Fair in the coming weeks!

⏪️ Earlier this afternoon, Think College team member Cate Weir and Stephanie Smith Lee, the former chair of the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council board , gave a presentation that introduced Inclusive Higher Education opportunities here at the National Down Syndrome Congress convention in Phoenix! 🏜️ Cate and Stephanie went over the basics of to prospective students with Down syndrome and their families. 🎉

We are looking forward to hosting the College Fair here at the convention tomorrow! 🎓

[ID: Cate, pictured left, and Stephanie, stand in front of a large screen that reads “Introduction to Inclusive Higher Education, “National Down Syndrome Congress Convention, July 26, 2024.

- greetings from the National Down Syndrome Congress Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ! 🏜️🌵 Our team members Susanna, Cate, Rebecca, and Olivia (pictured left to right) are excited to be exhibiting and hosting the College Fair 🎓 at this year’s event! Think College is a proud sponsor of this year’s convention. Stay tuned for updates in our stories over the coming days!

[ID: Susanna, Cate, Rebecca, and Olivia, pictured left to right, stand in front of a Think College backdrop and behind a table with a blue Think College tablecloth with lots of Think College resources & swag on top.]

What an incredible opportunity! ⬇️ Are you a young person with a disability from Japan or the US? Check out the TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities with the Institute for Community Inclusion and StoryCenter!

Tell us your story! Are you a young person with a disability from Japan or the US? Join our Fall 2024 TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities! This year, Institute for Community Inclusion & StoryCenter are convening Japanese and American college students and young professionals with disabilities for a 9-week online program to explore experiences, learn leadership skills, and build community with other youth through digital storytelling.

Learn more and apply by July 31, 2024!
https://buff.ly/3RoJSbW
U.S.-Japan Council

We can't say enough good things about this wonderfully written article by former Think College Intern, now Disability Advocacy Advisor at Institute for Community Inclusion, Rachel! "A disability is not an easy thing to navigate, and it requires resilience. As a community, we need to take pride in the hard times just as much as we do the happy ones. Pride doesn’t always have to be a happy thing. As I always say, “tough times don’t last but tough people do.” 👏

Read the full article at the link below! ⬇️

July is Disability Pride Month! Hear from Institute for Community Inclusion disability advocacy advisor Rachel Adams Duffy about her experience as a self-advocate, cherishing her community, vulnerability, and resilience: https://buff.ly/3LABOkW

What does Disability Pride mean to you?

This , we're thrilled to share a new resource from the Think College National Coordinating Center, all about non-degree credentials awarded by higher education programs for students with intellectual disability. The value 📈 of a credential awarded by a college program for students with intellectual disability on a resume may not be clear to a potential employer—yet! 👀 But the value is there, even if it is not currently common knowledge. This brief was written to support program staff and others to clearly articulate the value of a program's credential to potential and current employers, students, family and other community members.

🔖 The brief outlines six facts about postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability that illustrate the value of the non-degree credentials students graduating from these programs earn. Download the resource for free by heading over to https://buff.ly/3ShIQyM!

[ID: An image of the first page of the resource sits in the middle of the page beneath the Think College logo, and above text that reads "Articulating the Value of a Credential from a Postsecondary Education Program for Students with Intellectual Disability," the title of the article. These elements sit on a beige rectangle atop a navy blue background.]

Maybe Florida is where you want to go to college? Check out FIU Embrace!

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 FIU Embrace is now accepting rolling applications for Spring and Fall 2025! 📅 Don't miss your chance to be part of our amazing community. Apply now and take the first step towards a brighter future! 🌟

FIU Disability Resource Center Be Unique Academy Parent to Parent of Miami Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado Autism Speaks Florida FIU Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Think College Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado

Great news! 🎉 We're pleased to announce the 2025 Think College Policy Advocate (TCPA) cohort! This is the fourth group of policy advocates. The nine teams chosen will attend online and in-person trainings to learn about disability policy and advocacy. The training culminates in Hill visits with legislators in Washington, DC, where they’ll put those advocacy skills to work! 🏛️ 💪

Learn more about this year's cohort at https://buff.ly/3Yt05RV.

Announcing the 2025 Think College Policy Advocates! [Project: National Coordinating Center] Read on to learn more about the next cohort of Think College Policy Advocates! It's going to be a great group!

Did you know? 🤔 Only 2% of school-age students with intellectual disability (ID) go to college. Learn how to change expectations for students with ID and "Think Higher. Think College." 🎓 Head to buff.ly/4bEcBRm to help promote awareness for !

[ID: Two girls stand smiling at the camera; on the left is a white female with brown curly hair and a purple sweater, and on the right is a black female with brown braids wearing a grey sweater.]

- the fun in Baltimore continues! 🦀 Towards the end of this week, Think College team members exhibited at the AHEAD - Association on Higher Education And Disability conference, as well as showcased our poster on exploring disability supports for students with intellectual disability in higher education.

[ID: Photo 1: Think College team members Clare and Meg, pictured left to right, stand in front of their display poster.
Photo 2: Think College team members Danie and Susannah, pictured left to right, stand in front of a 'Think Higher. Think College.' backdrop and behind a table with a blue Think College tablecloth with resources and swag on the table.]

Wow! 🎉 We are honored to have been featured at the top of the American Council on Education's (ACE) weekly newsletter as part of our work within the Institute for Community Inclusion. In celebration of , Think College was highlighted for our work promoting inclusive higher education opportunities. Check it out at https://buff.ly/3WrNJI0. Thank you for shining a light on our work, ACE!

[ID: White text on a blue background reads 'Check It Out! Think College and ICI were featured in the American Council on Education's Weekly Newsletter! An image of the article sits within a graphic of a laptop. An animated hand holding up a megaphone sits at the bottom right corner. White dots sit within the top right and lower left corners.]

Our work in Baltimore didn’t end with the Project Director Meeting — yesterday, the Think College National Coordinating Center hosted its Accreditation Workgroup for their annual in-person meeting! 💥 The group of higher education and policy leaders is working to pilot and refine an accreditation process for higher education programs for students with intellectual disability.

👉 Want to learn more about program accreditation? Head to https://thinkcollege.net/resources/resources-by-topic/accreditation!

[ID: The 17 members of the Workgroup stand in front of a projector screen which has the Think College NCC logo shown.]

☀️ Good morning from our team members who are here in Baltimore! We are ready to start off another great day here at . Follow along on our stories throughout the day to join the fun!

[ID: Nine members of the Think College staff pose smiling at the camera in front of the conference logo on a tv screen behind them.]

🎶 Good morning (from) Baltimore! 💥 We are off and running for our 2024 TPSID Project Director Meeting here in Baltimore, Maryland! Excited to kick off the next few days of collaboration, conversations, and in-depth sessions with the federally-funded Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSID) programs from across the country. Follow along for updates over these next few days!

[ID: The photo shows many people sitting in a conference room with our team members Cate and Chelsea on the podium on stage.]

- we're headed to Baltimore! 🦀 The National Coordinating Center (NCC) is hosting it's 14th annual TPSID Project Director meeting in just a few days! This conference, hosted annually for the federally-funded Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSID) programs from across the country, will be the fourth of five project director meetings for this current cohort. We'll be sharing lots of updates on all of the amazing sessions, conversations, and outcomes from this year's meeting in the days to come!

Perfectly said, Liz! ⬇️ We are so grateful to know and collaborate with such a powerful advocate.

This , AUCD staff share why they feel disability pride!

Liz Weintraub, AUCD’s Senior Advocacy Specialist, is reminded of the pride she feels in her advocacy skills and relationship with her husband, Phil.

Let us know the pride you feel in your disability in the comments–we want to hear from you!

Stay tuned throughout July for more from AUCD staff.

- this time we've got team members in Florida! ☀️ This past week, our colleagues Danie, Caitlin, and Chelsea (pictured left to right) attended the 2024 Florida Postsecondary Education Program Planning Institute, hosted by the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities. Pictured here, they attended Expo and Reception, where they had the opportunity to network across programs and agencies to learn more about the ways students are supported on and off campus. They also met with several teams on important topics like person-centered planning and program development.

Stay tuned to see where our team will be headed next! ✈️

[ID: Danie, Caitlin, and Chelsea, pictured left to right, stand behind a table donning a white tablecloth with the 'Think Higher. Think College.' logo, with lots of resources and swag on top of the table.]

Wondering how you can utilize our Annual Report? 🤔 From students to program leaders to families, our Annual Report data can be useful to anyone interested or involved in the inclusive postsecondary education space.

🏛️ Interested in policy and advocacy? Advocates and policymakers can use the key data points from the annual report to advocate for increased funding or policy support for inclusive higher education initiatives.

📊 Interested in research? Researchers use the report as a source of data and insights for studying trends and outcomes related to postsecondary education for individuals with intellectual disability. The report provides valuable information on enrollment numbers, program characteristics, student demographics, and outcomes.

🎓 👪 Students and families use the report to explore postsecondary education options and make informed decisions about their educational pathways. The report provides valuable information on available programs, support services, and outcomes, helping students and families navigate the transition to higher education.

There are plenty of other ways to utilize our annual report! Head over to our latest article at https://buff.ly/3XSDdea to learn about all of the different ways it can be utilized by you or your network.

[ID: An image of the annual report front cover sits at the right, with black text on a blue background saying 'How to use the TPSID Annual Report.' Both the text and image sit overlayed on an orange and yellow background.]