Sinclair Community College receives grants to provide support for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Sinclair Community College has received two separate grants that will continue funding the Transition Option in Post-Secondary Education (Tartan TOPS) program, which provides academic and other support for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Tartan TOPS program has won awards for its services, such as the 2022-2023 Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College and the 2022 Erin Ritchey Educator Award from the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and the grant funding provided by the Charles D. Berry Foundation and the CareSource Foundation will allow Sinclair Community College to continue providing useful and innovative services for the students it serves.

According to an article on Sinclair Community College’s website, Tristan Chaput, the program coordinator for Tartan TOPS, was quoted as saying, “These generous grants are truly transformative and will allow us to continue fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where students with intellectual and developmental disabilities can thrive. Sinclair Community College is committed to ensuring that each student has access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to succeed academically and in their future careers.”

The Tartan TOPS program provides support services for students who have a variety of intellectual or developmental disabilities and helps them earn an Academic Career Readiness and Training credential via inclusive college courses. After students earn their credential from the Tartan TOPS program, they can either transition into other academic programs or move on to pursue their career. According to the Tartan TOPS webpage, the program provides its students with a number of career skills in its Career Readiness & Training Transition Program, including job application skills, assistive technology training, peer mentoring, career counseling, internships, and tutoring services.

The program was first established in 2021 and has continued growing thanks to the support provided by grants such as the ones recently awarded by the Charles D. Berry Foundation and the CareSource Foundation. Originally, the program spanned 18 months and only two students were participating. It has since grown to a two-year program, with 14 students graduating in December and a total of 24 overall graduates since it began. 

Dr. Zachary Beck, Sinclair Community College’s Chief Development Officer, was quoted as saying, “Sinclair Community College is profoundly grateful for the generosity of the Charles D. Berry Foundation and the CareSource Foundation. These grants will have a tremendous impact on the lives of our students, empowering them to reach their full potential through education and workforce experiences.”

Students in the Tartan TOPS program have access to the Tartan TOPS Lounge, which provides students with a place to relax, socialize, or study. Students also have the ability to meet with the program’s coordinator or Transition Support Specialist. Participating in the program does not require any additional fees beyond Sinclair Community College tuition and fees, and applications for program participation are open until April 2025.

For more information about Sinclair Community College, visit the school’s website.