Think by the Bay Awarded $2.3 Million Federal Grant to Expand Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

When Think by the Bay launched at Cal State East Bay in 2023, it began with a straightforward belief: students with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve real pathways into college life. Two years later, that belief has earned national recognition.

The program has been awarded a $2.3 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) initiative, a significant investment in expanding inclusive higher education in the East Bay.

Think by the Bay is led by Dr. Sara McDaniel , associate professor of special education and the program's principal investigator, with co-principal investigators Dr. Sarah Taylor , professor and chair of social work, and Dr. Talya Kemper , associate professor of teacher education. The three launched the program through a partnership between the Center for Disability Justice Research (CDJR) and Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) , combining expertise in academic access, teaching practice and community support.

A Program Built on Belonging

For McDaniel, the origins of Think by the Bay were rooted in a gap she witnessed up close.

"I saw how few options existed for students with intellectual disabilities after high school, especially when it came to inclusive, meaningful college experiences," she said. "My co-founders and I believe strongly that students with ID deserve the same chance to grow, learn and be a part of a college campus community."

Now, students with intellectual disabilities experience college firsthand.

Estevan Villegas, a Think by the Bay student, wasted no time, taking multiple classes and expanding his social life.

So far, Villegas has explored music, art and wellness courses, opportunities he's never had before and, like many others with ID, never expected to have. Since then, his engagement in life has exploded.

"I learned how to ask for help, make new friends, play in a rock band, do drawing at the art building and do yoga," he said. But expressing himself freely and with confidence is where his heart is these days: "I love doing public speaking and making slideshows."

Having and cultivating a voice in an academic environment founded on the ideals of expression was exactly the point of Think by the Bay.

Academic learning, independence building, and a sense of connection that extends across campus are part and parcel of what makes college an important element for all students, but especially for students like Villegas who are primed and eager to find their voice and place in the world.

What the New Grant Will Make Possible

With the new TPSID grant, Think by the Bay is ready to elevate and expand.

"This new grant is a gamechanger," McDaniel said. "It allows us to expand the program into a full four-year experience, add a residential option and build the kinds of support that make college not just accessible, but truly transformative. Most importantly, it gives us the resources to think and plan longer-term."

Taylor emphasized that inclusion enriches the university community as much as it supports the students enrolled.

"The exclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities harms them and their families, and it also deprives the broader community of engaging with people whose experiences and perspectives are extremely valuable," she said. "Think by the Bay addresses this by creating a proven pathway into college life."

A Growing Impact on Campus Community

Taylor said the program's impact is measurable and is comfortably meeting expected outcomes, but the deeper cultural transformation they hope for can be seen in small, human moments that influence how people embrace difference.

"Inclusion looks like spontaneous, mutual, natural connections between people," she said. "Those moments happen every time our students cross paths with peers, faculty or staff. It changes the community."

Looking Ahead

The faculty team is already looking ahead. With a four-year and residential model now within reach, the next phase of Think by the Bay will focus on building a durable, lasting program that seamlessly coalesces with the real world, creating paths that improve social and career inclusion for students like Villegas.

"My dream is that graduates leave Think by the Bay with lifelong friendships, real-world skills, confidence in their voices and the belief that they belong, in college, in the workplace and as valuable members of their communities," McDaniel said.

Taylor hopes the program keeps the heart that has guided it from the beginning. "As programs become more established, we sometimes forget why they were needed," she said. "Holding on to that purpose matters."

Think by the Bay is housed within the Center for Disability Justice Research (CDJR) and Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) at Cal State East Bay.

To learn more or to contribute, contact Think by the Bay.