Think College in the Media

9/18/23 | Empowering Students: The Growing Landscape of Inclusive Higher Education, featured in Parenting Special Needs 

Cate Weir authored this "back to school" feature for PSN magazine, highlighting news and updates about inclusive higher education, new resources and tools from Think College, and student stories of success.


3/26/23 | Ensuring Quality Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities, featured in Inside Higher Ed (by Jaime Adame)

This article highlights the current work of the Accreditation Workgroup, established by Think College, as it works to set standards for evaluating the growing number of programs for students long underserved in higher education.

1/26/23 | From the Community: Stanford should include students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, featured in The Stanford Daily

This opinion piece was written by Chris Lemons, Associate Professor of Special Education, Stanford University. In the piece, he talks about why inclusive college options are a smart and logical next step in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and how well-served Stanford University would be to start welcoming students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

10/12/22 | Georgia College Opens THRIVE Inclusive Post Secondary Education in Milledgeville, featured in Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Include College Corner (by Hilary Vece)

Think College is mentioned here in this article about Georgia College and State University preparing to open the newest inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) this spring.

9/22/22 | Inclusive Higher Education for People with Intellectual Disabilities, featured in Think Inclusive Podcast (by Tim Villegas)

In this podcast episode from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc. (MCIE), Meg Grigal and Cate Weir from Think College discuss why it is important for individuals with intellectual disabilities to have the option to go to college. They discuss what programs look like and how the data shows that these programs are successful, with learners getting jobs after graduation at three times the rate of the national average.

9/15/22 | College: a choice for everyone! , featured in Parenting Special Needs Magazine (by Cate Weir)

Think College's own Cate Weir wrote an article for families about college options for students with intellectual disability and all the resources available on the Think College website.  The article covers college enrollment information, courses of study and supports offered at colleges, and tips for how to explore the options.

6/21/22 | What's New at Think College , featured in College, Disabilities, and Success (by Mickie Hayes)

In this podcast episode, Danie Roberts-Dahm, the Project Coordinator for the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network, shares how Think College is changing the narrative about college for youth with intellectual disabilities.

5/8/22 | TerpsEXCEED’s inaugural class reflects on first year at UMD , featured in The Diamondback (by Grace Yarrow)

This article spotlights the inaugural class of students in the new inclusive college program for students with intellectual disability at the University of Maryland College Park. It features Hari Kannan, a 2022 Think College Policy Advocate.

4/27/22 | College programs for students with disabilities are growing in Western PA, but some have faced challenges, featured in PublicSource (by Emma Folts)

This article introduces readers to several college programs for students with intellectual disability in Pennsylvania. Think College's Meg Grigal is quoted as she reflects on how opening colleges to diverse learners can lead to higher quality higher education.

2/16/22 | Spotlight Series: A Focus on Education with Cate Weir & Debra Hart, featured on Parenting Impossible (by Annette Hines)

In this podcast episode, Annette Hines speaks with Cate Weir, Program Director and Debra Hart, Co-Principal Investigator of Think College. Listen in as they discuss what college offers young adults with intellectual disability. As Cate and Debra say “If you don’t know, you don’t go!”

2/16/22 | We can help students with intellectual disabilities shatter glass ceilings, featured in The Campus, Times Higher Education (by Meg Grigal and Ann Werbach)

Meg Grigal from Think College and Ann Werbach from InsideTrack wrote an Op Ed about students with intellectual disability exceeding expectations and excelling in college.

11/26/21 | Introducing the UMass Boston MAICEI Program, featured in The Mass Media (by Adrienne Harris-Fried)

Think College team member, Ashley Luce, is interviewed about her work with the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative, an inclusive comprehensive college based transition partnership where students, 18-22 years old, are fully included on campus in all aspects of a complete college experience.

10/19/21 | Think College for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, featured on College, Disabilities, and Success (by Mickie Hayes)

In this podcast episode, Cate Weir, the Coordinator of the Think College National Coordinating Center, shares how college can be a meaningful, productive opportunity for students with intellectual disability to gain skills that can lead to effective competitive employment.

9/15/21 | College is Now an Option for All, featured in Parenting Special Needs Magazine (by Lynda Allen)

This article focuses on how parents can help prepare their child for college, from early childhood through high school and later. Several Think College resources are linked throughout the article.

3/9/21 | Improving Accessibility for Students and Faculty with Disabilities, featured in EdTech: Focus on Higher Education (by Alexander Huls)

This article calls on IT teams at colleges and universities to encourage staff and faculty to use accessible technology to support students with disabilities and improve engagement for all learners. Cate Weir was quoted in this article, recommending the use of plain language and images to improve accessibility across learning environments.


2/1/21 | New Standards in the Works for Postsecondary Programs, featured in Disability Scoop (by Michelle Diament)

Stephanie Smith Lee, chair of the Think College Accreditation Workgroup, is quoted in this article. Smith Lee discusses the benefits that accreditation standards will provide to families when looking at college programs.

10/25/19 | Helping students with intellectual disabilities conquer college, featured in The Hechinger Report (by Kelly Field)

"[Cate] Weir said college is the 'perfect incubator' for young adults with intellectual disability, providing a relatively safe space where they can take charge of their own lives." Aggies Elevated at Utah State University is featured in this article, but the overall focus are the extensive benefits of college for students with ID.

6/12/19 | Disabled should also be in college mainstream, featured in Sentinel & Enterprise (by Chris Lisinski)

This article was written by a Massachusetts Statehouse News reporter, about legislation that would expand higher education access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at all 29 higher education institutes in MA. College students, college educators, advocates, and Debra Hart, were in attendance to speak in support of this legislation.

3/25/19 | Higher Education Is Becoming More Inclusive Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, featured on WUMW, Milwaukee’s NPR (by Emily Files)

Colleges and universities around the country are becoming more inclusive for students with intellectual disability. This article features the growth of programs in Wisconsin, and how important it was for Lauren Buchanan to attend college. The author of the article spoke with Debra Hart, and concludes by saying that advocacy efforts are a contributing factor to the growth of inclusive higher education.

3/18/19 | What happens after college for students with Down syndrome? Answer: A LOT, featured on the TODAY website (by Rachel Paula Abramson)

This article highlights all the things that people with Down syndrome do at college and after: take classes, make friends, graduate, get a job (or jobs), have romantic relationships, live independently—and more! Several personal stories are featured, and Meg Grigal is quoted.

3/12/19 | CE2019: Creating Programs for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, featured on American Education Today, a blog by American Council on Education (ACE)

On March 12, Cate Weir was part of a panel presentation at the annual ACE convention, where she contributed to a discussion about how to start an inclusive college program for students with I/DD. Other panelists were a parent and businessman from Washington state, and two faculty members from George Mason University, including Heidi Graff, academic coordinator of the Mason LIFE program.

2/26/19 | Postsecondary Programs More Inclusive, Report Finds, featured in Disability Scoop

Michelle Diament writes about information from the Year Three Annual Report of the TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (2017–2018), noting that with an increasing number of colleges offering programs for those with intellectual disabilities, higher education programs are becoming more inclusive and leading to better outcomes. Meg Grigal is quoted in the article noting that there are more programs, and there is more work to be done.

2/11/19 | More Colleges Opening Doors To People With Developmental Disabilities, featured in Forbes (by Michael Nietzel)

This article, written by a former university president, discusses the growth in college options for individuals with intellectual disability over the past two decades and the benefits that come along with these programs.

8/1/18 | Transitioning Students with Disabilities, featured in School Administrator magazine

The article details the complex work involved for high school teachers and school administrators to support students in attending college, working, and achieving other personal goals, post-high school. Meg Grigal provides some national context for this work, and colleagues from the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative, Holyoke Community College, Minot State University (ND), and Campus Connect (WI) are also featured in the article.

6/25/18 | ‘The choice should be there.’ More colleges enroll students with intellectual disabilities, featured on Philly.com

This article highlights all the positive activity happening in inclusive higher education in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. The focus is on Emily Scott, who is preparing to attend the new RAM Program at West Chester University this fall. Debra Hart, co-PI for Think College, is quoted, as are leaders from Temple University and West Chester University.

3/29/18 | Meet Colton, a student with Down syndrome, who plans to take part in the wave of inclusive higher ed programs, featured on PublicSource website

This article about a young man preparing for college, features information and statistics from the Think College website. Ann Marie Licata, from the PA Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (PIHEC) and Sherri Landis, from the DREAM Partnership, are quoted in the article.

1/15/18 | #25-College & High School: "Think College" for Students with Disabilities, featured on the LOMAH website and via podcast.

The Land of Milk and Honey interviewed Cate Weir for this podcast on college options for students with differing abilities. The interviewer, Kim Albrecht, asks questions about the website, the college database, and the history of the Think College project.

1/2/18 | LeadLearnLive Expands Opportunities for Students with Disabilities, featured in TulsaKids Magazine (by Brandon Schmitz)

This article highlights work in Oklahoma to bring inclusive college options to the state. Meg Grigal from Think College comments on the important message these sorts of initiatives provide about students with intellectual disability desiring to learn.

12/21/17 | Opportunities Rise for College Students with Intellectual Disabilities, featured in the Christian Science Monitor

This article highlights the growth in college programs for students with ID, with a link to the Think College website and quotes from Tom Sannicandro and Debra Hart.

12/2/17 | David Seville is the Heart of Clemson Football, featured on ESPN YouTube channel

David, graduate of the Clemson LIFE program, is now the equipment manager of the championship Clemson football team. David, his dad, and the football coach are interviewed, as are other friends of David.

11/20/17 | Leaving College with Lots of Benefits – But No Degree, featured on WXXI a New York State affiliate of NPR

In the second episode of the podcast, Exited, meet three young people as they leave college experiences for the real world. Cate Weir is interviewed.

8/3/17 | Developmentally Disabled, and Going to College, featured in The New York Times

This Education Life special feature, including comments by Cate Weir, covers the experiences of students with intellectual disability who are taking classes in a variety of postsecondary settings. It also examines the challenges and benefits of initiatives to include these students in college and university communities.

6/7/17 | College Students Not Limited by Down Syndrome, featured on the A&E TV/Born This Way website

Cate Weir was interviewed by staff from A&E’s award-winning show, Born This Way. The article describes the growth in college opportunities for people with Down syndrome and includes profiles of Ruby’s Rainbow scholarship recipients.

5/20/17 | Joshua Williams has special needs — and he’s proudly off to college, featured in The Seattle Times

An opinion piece contributed by Joshua’s parents, Tony & Cindi Williams, this article is about how the family discovered that Joshua had options after high school, and how the Think College website changed their lives.

5/1/17 | The Path to Higher Education With an Intellectual Disability, featured in The Atlantic

Students with disabilities who attend postsecondary programs that emphasize work experience have a better chance of finding fulfilling work. Meg Grigal is quoted in the article, citing an employment rate of 40% for students completing federally funded TPSID programs.

Media Inquiries

Please direct all media inquiries to:

Cate Weir
Project Director for Think College
thinkcollege@umb.edu