Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026  
Time: 12:00 p.m., ET / 9:00 a.m., PT   
Duration: 60 minutes 

Join ACT and the experts from Think College for an inspiring session to discover how to unlock postsecondary opportunities for students with disabilities.

Over the past two decades, advocacy efforts and improvements to the Higher Education Act have expanded access to more than 300 inclusive college programs nationwide. This webinar explores what inclusive higher education looks like in practice and the critical role counselors play in helping students identify the right program, access financial aid and other funding sources, and prepare for college success beginning in K–12. Think College staff will demonstrate the Think College program database and share evidence of the meaningful outcomes achieved by students with intellectual disability who pursue a college education.

Together, we’ll explore practical strategies, share success stories, and highlight resources that empower educators to create inclusive pathways to college and beyond.

What to Expect

The session blends informative content with practical strategies and interactive elements, including:

Live polls
Q&A segments

Join us on Wednesday, February 18, at noon ET to:  

Support student exploration: Help students with disabilities explore postsecondary options, identify programs that fit their needs, and access financial aid and funding resources.
Build hands-on experience: Use the Think College program database to locate and evaluate inclusive higher education opportunities.
Advocate with confidence: Leverage success stories and outcome data to champion inclusive college pathways and support student success starting in K–12.

Speaker

Clare Papay, PhD.
Senior Associate, Inclusive Postsecondary Education - ThinkCollege
Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston

Clare Papay (she/her) is a senior associate of inclusive postsecondary education at Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She conducts research and provides technical assistance on inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability. Clare is the co-principal investigator for the National Coordinating Center for the TPSID Model Demonstration Program and for the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network: A Technical Assistance and Dissemination Center, both funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education. She serves as co-editor for the Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education (JIPE).

Speaker

Chelsea VanHorn Stinnett, PhD.
Technical Assistance Manager– Inclusive Postsecondary Education, ThinkCollege
Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston

Chelsea VanHorn Stinnett is a program manager in Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE), at Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She manages technical assistance and research for Think College, an organization that consists of several federally funded projects and contracts focused on expanding inclusive higher education opportunities for college students with intellectual disability. Chelsea conducts research on several aspects of IPSE programming, including sexual and emotional wellness of college students with intellectual disability.

Facilitator

Lisa Sommer King
Senior Director, ACT’s American College Application Campaign

Lisa has worked for the American College Application Campaign since 2016 as senior communications specialist and was named director in 2020. Prior to joining the Campaign, King served local, state, and national nonprofits and education institutions through her communications consultancy, Lisa King Consulting, LLC. Some of the clients include the Michigan College Access Network, the National College Attainment Network, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and Michigan AfterSchool Association. King holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in Integrative Public Relations and Public Affairs and a master’s degree in strategic communication from Michigan State University. She resides in East Lansing, Michigan with her three sons and two cats.

ACT Webinar

What is Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability?

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