Think College is the leading national center dedicated to advancing higher education for students with intellectual disability. Through research, training, technical assistance, dissemination, and partnerships, Think College works to expand opportunities for students with intellectual disability to access and succeed in higher education, recognizing higher education as a critical pathway to employment and economic independence.
Think College has been at the forefront of efforts to increase awareness, improve program quality, and ensure positive student outcomes. Our work has led to significant progress in higher education for students with intellectual disability. Some key impact highlights include:
- Over 350 colleges and universities across the U.S. now offer postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability.
- The Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) has provided technical assistance to 136 federally funded model demonstration projects and many additional programs nationwide.
- The Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network developed nine regional alliances, addressing needs at the regional level across the United States.
- Since 2010, the Think College National Coordinating Center has collected data on over 5,200 students with intellectual disability across 136 college and university programs in 34 states. The most recent report found that 74% of TPSID program graduates were employed 1 year after graduation, more than 4 times the typical employment rate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Programs at four universities have been accredited, and the National Coordinating Center is supporting many more colleges and universities to prepare for accreditation.
- Think College’s resources have provided critical information for students, families, educators, policymakers, and more.
Key Projects
Think College operates multiple initiatives, but two of its largest and most impactful projects are the Think College National Coordinating Center and the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network. Both projects are part of the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) initiative, funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education.
Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) (2010-2030)
The National Coordinating Center provides evaluation, technical assistance, and coordination for federally funded model demonstration (TPSID) programs and other postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability nationwide. The NCC’s evaluation of TPSID projects has developed knowledge of program components and documented the experiences and outcomes of students with intellectual disability in higher education. The development of program accreditation standards and an accreditation process is a hallmark of the NCC's work. The NCC provides technical assistance to all federally funded model demonstration projects and many additional programs nationwide, supports students and their families to learn about and prepare for college and disseminates best practices to a wide audience to ensure high-quality, sustainable higher education opportunities that lead to better employment outcomes.
Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network (2021-2026)
This nationwide initiative further strengthens the capacity of colleges and universities to offer high-quality higher education programs to students with intellectual disability. The Network extends the knowledge learned from the TPSID model demonstration projects and applies it more widely. The network disseminates research and best practices for improving and expanding inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual disability through regional and national training, collaborative workgroups, and public awareness activities. Network staff provide professional development, conduct research, and build regional and national communities of practice to support institutions in expanding their offerings for students with intellectual disability. A key focus of the Network is supporting the development of state and regional alliances to build community and opportunities for localized support for the development of higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disability.
Want to learn more?
- Check out the hundreds of resources in our Resource Library
- Learn about all of the Think College projects
- Visit ThinkHigherEd.net to learn about postsecondary education for students with intellectual disability and how YOU can “Think Higher. Think College.”