Think College Directors Receive Leadership Award (MA UCEDD/LEND)

November 19, 2018

The directors of Think College and authors of the acclaimed Think College! Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Meg Grigal and Debra Hart, were awarded the George Jesien National Leadership Award at the State of the Art Conference in Syracuse University. Grigal and Hart have guided the development of federal and state policy and have informed the research and practice of thousands of educators. Their work has paved the way for the development of inclusive post-secondary education programs across the country and abroad.

Through the National Coordinating Center for the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs), Grigal and Hart have led work to develop Model Accreditation Standards. They have worked in partnership with grantees throughout the country to create the Think College Data Network, the only existing national dataset on inclusive higher education services for students with intellectual disabilities. They have conducted technical assistance in over 25 states and were instrumental in establishing early post-secondary education options in Maryland and Massachusetts.

The George Jesien National Leadership Award is named in honor of George Jesien, PhD, a long-time national leader in the disabilities field. In 2013 he retired from the position of executive director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. AUCD continues to be a guiding force that advances policy and practice for individuals with developmental and other disabilities as well as their families.