DAYTON, Ohio — There’s something special about putting on a cap and gown on your college graduation day.

For many students with intellectual disabilities, that special milestone is something they could dream of but never truly envision.

However, one Ohio community college views strengths and passions as just as important as earning credits and a certificate.

Mary Lee is a student in the Tartan Transition Option in Post-Secondary Education Program, or Tartan TOPS for short at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

“It has been amazing. It really helped me navigate the transition from high school to college,” Lee said.

She graduates in December and plans to head to a four-year college.

Her ultimate goal is to be a history teacher.  

“I’m excited because it’s a big accomplishment because I’m doing my TOPS classes on top of my classes for my Associates Degree,” she said.

Lee spent a lot of time with her classmates at the TOPS student lounge.

The program helps pave a career path for part-time students who have an intellectual disability.

“I like being able to figure out what I’m going to do with my future. For my next semester, we’re thinking about doing certain classes like health care delivery and whatnot,” said student Jayla Miller.

Helping to lead the effort is program coordinator Tristan Chaput.

She said recognizing strengths plays a big part in success.  

“That is something that we are really focused on. What are you great at? How can we help you pair your passion, your skills, with a career that is going to make your heart sing,” Chaput said.

Andrew Tucker has a passion for construction. He loves putting things together. It started with Legos and has grown from there.

“Being in a college experience has really helped me socially so I can be with people my own age and it will give me a lot of extra experience to help back me up when I’m going into the workforce,” Tucker said.

Sometimes, recent grads like Harper Mesure come by and offer advice.

His major was culinary studies. Now he’s a chef and works part time at the college day care.

“Keep working hard and my term is perseverance. So try to persevere and you can ask a trusted adult if you need your help with homework,” Mesure said.

There are more than 300 similar programs in the U.S. and 10 in Ohio, but Tartan TOPS is different. 

“Tartan TOPS is unique in the sense that our students take college level classes in an inclusive setting for college credits. They are walking away with a certificate, but they’re also walking away with an academic transcript,” said Chaput.

For Lee, picturing herself on graduation day feels more real by the minute. 

“It feels exciting, very exciting,” she said.

“We’ve had students come here who said I’m going to work in a mailroom or I’m going to do something that isn’t achieving their full potential and now they’re an assistant teacher, they own their own home, they have a driver’s license and they own their own car. So we are helping them really understand what they are truly capable of,” Chaput said.

For Tucker, he still has more to do, but knowing he’ll graduate brings a feeling of joy. 

“It makes me feel proud of myself. It’s like another check-mark on the things I want to experience in my life,” he said.

Tartan stops started online during the pandemic with only four students and now they have 39.

So far, the program has had 25 students successfully complete the program and 14 more are set to graduate next month.

Tartan TOPS is currently recruiting for the Fall 2025 semester.

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