student with a disability studying in a library with a think college logo and text reads think college.net news and updates

Special Edition: IPSE DAY 2024!

 

Celebrate with Us!
A man in a black shirt stands next to a woman in green sunglasses outdoors and he is making a peace sign and both are smiling and the text hashtag IPSEDay is visible at the top of the image

TJ and Elena from Virginia Commonwealth University celebrate IPSE Day in style.

IPSE Day is all about spreading the word about college opportunities for students with intellectual disability. Each year, we come together online (and sometimes in person!) to celebrate colleges, professors, students, and the importance of inclusive education using social media. We aim to flood the internet with positivity, and we've been successful!


Here's what we've achieved:

  • More than 200 posts used #IPSEDay2024 and #IPSEDay.
  • Over 300 students and staff shared photos holding the IPSE Day sign.
  • Many colleges, including community colleges, joined in by making posts.
  • Career and technical colleges also took part.
  • Several organizations not related to colleges talked about IPSE Day too.
  • Different campuses hosted special events.
  • Seven states and one city officially recognized IPSE Day with proclamations.


There's probably even more going on that we haven't kept track of! If you want to share what you did or send photos, email Olivia at olivia.fraioli@umb.edu.
 

Photos Shared on Social Media

UMass Boston
A student with glasses and a blue long sleeve shirt is smiling and holding a sign that reads hashtag IPSEDay I support IPSE because its helpful feedback and grown in a well-lit room with chairs and a bulletin board in the background

Luke: I support IPSE because it’s helpful to get support, feedback, and growth.

Mary: I support IPSE because I love to learn.

University of Oklahoma

Some colleges got creative and made unique signs. Sooner Works made an original sign asking

What Does Being in Sooner Works Mean to you?

Person holding a sign over their face with the IPSE logo and the sign reads I support IPSE 2024 because it highlights students in college with IDD through successes and future opportunities stay inclusive with a smiley face

Above: I support IPSE because it highlights students in college with IDD, their success and future opportunities! Stay inclusive! :)

Sooner Works Program Director Anna Barritt: I support IPSE because these students will change the world. 
Person holding a sign over their face with IPSE logo does being in sooner works mean to you Its how much you can grow and build up towards your dream goal. This is only the beginning of a new new adventure and risk it all face your fears and challenges

Above: I support IPSE because how much you can grow and build up towards your dream goal. This is only the beginning of a new new adventure and risk it all face your fears and challenges.
Person holding a sign over their face with the IPSE logo and the sign reads What does inclusion in college mean to you Everyone gets a chance

Above: I support IPSE because everyone gets a chance.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign that reads I support IPSE Day because I have a path to a career with IPSE Day logo

Grace: I support IPSE because I have a path to a career.
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign that reads I support IPSE Day because I can achieve goals with IPSE Day logo

Emerald: I support IPSE because I can achieve goals
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign that reads I support IPSE Day because its fun and I met my awesome girlfriend with IPSE Day logo

Clary: I support IPSE because it’s fun and I met my awesome girlfriend.
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign that reads I support IPSE Day because its a challenge with IPSE Day logo

John: I support IPSE because it’s a challenge.

Western Carolina University
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign with the IPSEDay logo that reads I support IPSE Day because the UP Program gives me education and I like to make friends meet supports it helps me to find a good job in the future

Noah: I support IPSE because the UP Program gives me education and I like to make friends meet supports it helps me to find a good job in the future.
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign with the IPSEDay logo that reads I support IPSE Day because it is important to me for the program because I like to handout out with my friends and it is important to me for the program b

Kylie: I support IPSE because it is important to me for the program because I like to handout out with my friends and it is important to me for the program to help people too.
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign with the IPSEDay logo that reads I support IPSE Day because it gives everyone a fair chance in life everyone deserves a chance at a higher education or a good paying job to live life ind

Lucas: I support IPSE because it gives everyone a fair chance in life everyone deserves a chance at a higher education or a good paying job to live life independently.
Young person with intellectual disability holding a handwritten sign with the IPSEDay logo that reads I support IPSE Day because It helps me to succeed and teaches me about life and how to be independent.

Neil: I support IPSE because it helps me to succeed and teaches me about life and how to be independent. 

UNC Greensboro

Integrative Community Studies exhibited over 25 student messages in the campus center.

Orange Technical College

Row 1: I support IPSE because it allows people to make a lot of friends. I support IPSE because I choose to include everyone!

Row 2: I support IPSE because inclusion is good for everyone. I support IPSE because everyone is better together.

Row 3: I support IPSE because they support me! I support IPSE because belonging is for everyone!

Association University Centers of Excellence (AUCD)
White woman which short dark hair and glasses wearing blue shirt holding up a sign with the IPSE Day logo and the sign reads I support IPSE day because it is the smart thing to do when you include people with disabilities in college because all

AUCD is one of our partner organizations and Liz Weintraub, senior advocacy specialist, is one of our favorite people! Liz: I support IPSE because it is the smart thing to do when you include people with disabilities in college because all means all!

Our Team & Other Institute for Community Inclusion Staff

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) celebrated extensively across all its projects, not just Think College! Staff members from Transition Leadership, Think Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, and many other initiatives shared their support on social media.
A person with glasses and a blue patterned shirt holds a sign that reads I support IPSE because it can create equal educational opportunities for all Think College with the hashtag IPSEDay at the top Plants are visible in the background

Oge Dashzeveg, program assistant: I support IPSE because It can create equal educational opportunities for all.

A woman standing indoors holding a sign that reads IPSEDay I support IPSE because everyone deserves to learn She is smiling and theres a Think College logo on the sign and a badge with the same logo in the background

Meg Grigal, research fellow: I support IPSE because everyone deserves to learn
A person with short hair and glasses is holding a sign that reads IPSEDay I support IPSE because anyone who wants to go to college should be able to In the background there are shelves with various items including books and a toy car

Danie Roberts-Dahm, project coordinator: I support IPSE because anyone who wants to go to college should be able to!
A person with shoulder length red hair wearing a blue sweater is holding a sign that reads IPSEDay SUPPORT IPSE BECAUSE Opportunity leads to Achievement Think College They are standing on a porch with a window and plants in the background

Caitlyn Bukaty, research associte: I support IPSE because  it leads to Achievement. 
A person with red hair is sitting in a black motorized wheelchair against a blue background she is holding up a sign that says I support IPSE because Education is for everyone The person is smiling and wearing a black shirt and light colored pants

Rachel Adams-Duffy, advocacy advisor: I support IPSE because education is for everyone!!
A man with white hair and glasses is smiling while holding a sign that reads I support IPSE because college is a gateway to a great work life for everyone The sign also has the hashtag IPSEDay at the top He is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt

Neil McNeil, program and policy specialist: I support IPSE because college is a gateway to a great work life for everyone!!
A person is smiling and holding a sign in front of a blue background The sign reads IPSEDay I support IPSE because disability should be included in DEI initiatives The person is wearing a maroon shir

Ryan Wedeking, research data coordinator: I support IPSE because disability should be included in DEI initiatives.
A person with short hair wearing glasses and a yellow striped shirt is smiling and holding a sign that reads I support IPSE because our college campuses are made richer and stronger by students with unique perspectives IPSEDay

Madeline Webster, training associate: I support IPSE because our college campuses are made richer and stronger by students with unique perspectives! 
 
Thank You written in bubble letters

Save-the-Date:

May 1, 2025 is #IPSEDAY2025
 

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sheila.johnson@umb.edu


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Institute for Community Inclusion University of Massachusetts Boston


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