Think College

09/04/2026

Incredible opportunity from American Association of People with Disabilities! Learn more below: ⤵️

Calling disabled leaders with bold ideas: The 2027 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award may be a perfect opportunity for you to get funding for your project, as well as support from AAPD in carrying it out!

Applications open today and are due by Wednesday, September 23rd at 5 PM ET/2 PM PT. Applicants may be an individual or a pair of individuals applying as a team, and all applicants must identify as disabled.

AAPD will hold a webinar for interested applicants on Wednesday, August 26th at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT. We have many other resources for applicants, including application tips, a sample application, FAQs, and more. Find our resources, learn about previous projects, register for the webinar, and more at: https://www.aapd.com/paul-g-hearne-emerging-leaders-award/

ID: Navy graphic with decorative elements and a black and white photo of Paul G. Hearne, a middle-aged white man, announces that applications are now open for the 2027 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award.

09/03/2026

Our September newsletter is now available! 📬️ Check out what's new from our world, including new resources & publications, podcast episodes, upcoming webinars & events and more. Read this month's issue at https://conta.cc/4hTooSD, and stay up-to-date with all things Think College by subscribing today at https://thinkcollege.net/about/connect-with-us!

09/02/2026

🏛️ 🔎 Our College Search Tool has come a long way since 2010 when it first launched! Today, it’s more than just a way to find a college program for students with intellectual disability — it’s a record of how inclusive postsecondary education has grown and evolved over the past 16 years.

Read our newest Insight Brief to explore the history of the College Search Tool, how it has changed, and what it looks like today in 2026: https://tcollege.me/3UztbPt.

09/01/2026

Happy September! 📚️ By now for most of the country, a new school year is officially underway! Whether you’re a high school student starting to think about life after graduation, a family exploring college options, or a student heading back to campus for another semester, we've got resources in our new Back To School article that can support you wherever you are in your college journey, including:

• A Student’s Guide to Finding the Right College
• A video resource of students using our College Search Tool
• An updated Student Corner, with information created just for students
• An updated Conducting a College Search resource

Plus, find resources on IEP & college planning, scholarships, preparing for college expectations, and advice from college students and alumni. Read our new Back to School article today: https://tcollege.me/4g5ttom.

08/30/2026

💭🤔 Got questions? We've got answers. From campus life to scholarships and much, much, more - our Resources By Topic page covers the most pertinent topics in the inclusive higher education world. These options are just a snapshot - to learn more about what topics we cover, and see all of the Frequently Asked Questions across the field, head to https://thinkcollege.net/resources/resources-by-topic!

08/29/2026

🎓 What does it really look like to become accreditation-ready? For college programs serving students with intellectual disability, accreditation readiness is about more than gathering documents or preparing for a site visit. It’s about taking a thoughtful look at your program’s mission, policies, practices, resources, and outcomes—and building the evidence to demonstrate how they align with accreditation standards.

Join Think College and the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council on September 23rd from 3-4pm ET for “So, What Does Becoming Accreditation-Ready Really Look Like?” where you'll receive clear guidance on how to:
☑️ Demystify the accreditation-readiness process
📋️ Assess program readiness, strengths, and gaps
🤝 Engage key stakeholders
📝 Develop a realistic self-study and accreditation review plan, and
🔍️ Identify concrete next steps for preparing your program

📅 Learn more and register today at https://thinkcollege.net/think-college-webinar/so-what-does-becoming-accreditation-ready-really-look-like

08/28/2026

Three episodes of our podcast collaboration with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education are now available! 🎙🤝 This podcast series is for educators, transition teams, and families asking what comes after high school - and is available to listen to now at https://go.mcie.org/oZfiBR .

For a long time, college wasn't part of the conversation for students with intellectual disability. Right now, only 2 percent go on to college. That's changing. Across the country, colleges and universities are building programs where students with intellectual disability take classes, live in the dorms, hold jobs, and graduate with the same sense of belonging as their peers.

Think Inclusive teamed up with Think College to explore what that looks like in practice. This podcast series is for educators, transition teams, and families asking what comes after high school. https://go.mcie.org/6MA5r3

Listen to the most recent episode at: https://go.mcie.org/oZfiBR

08/27/2026

From the classroom to the residence hall, Kendall is making her mark. As a second-year student in the NDSU Transition and Access Program, Kendall is excelling academically and socially, taking her courses for credit, and working as a Resident Assistant. She’s gaining leadership and work experience while building community on campus — all while working toward her goal of a career in social work.

Kendall’s story is one of the many success stories of college students with intellectual disability featured in our latest annual report. Download your copy today at https://tcollege.me/4cd8Y8b!

08/26/2026

🐶 We heard it was , so we couldn't let the day pass us by without introducing you all to our furry colleagues! 🐾 Without further ado...Meet the dogs of Think College! 🎓