TOPS Program Celebrates 10 Years
of Promoting Inclusion at Ohio State!
Student Success Stories
Read some stories about our students, who have achieved success through the TOPS Program:
- Austin: On top of the world
- Ben: Patient transportation embraces all
- Colin: If you build it, they will blossom
- Jackson: Teacher’s assistant at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus
- Jason: COVID-19 can’t stop Alexandria student from sharing his love of reading
- Matt: Student nutrition aide at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Alex: Ambassador and intern for the Best Buddies organization
Then and Now – The Evolution of TOPS
TOPS started as a Project Search program and has grown into one of Ohio’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary programs for students with disabilities affiliated with Think College:
THEN (2010-11) |
NOW (2019-20) |
8 internship opportunities
|
53 unpaid internship opportunities 21 paid student employment and internship positions
|
Average pay: $8.43/hour
|
Average pay: $12.43/hour
|
Average work hours: 20/week
|
Average work hours: 25.8/week
|
58% graduates
|
79% graduates
|
7 courses in 5 deparments
|
Over 150 courses in over 40 departments
|
13 peer mentors
|
56 peer mentors
|
No on-campus living options
|
On-campus living options include
|
TOPS students have taken over 150 unique courses at OSU (Excel file)
TOPS students have gained work experience at 70 unique worksites (Word file)
TOPS students have participated in 30 unique community service activities (Word file)
Please revisit this page throughout the 2020-21 school year, as we will be celebrating 10-years of serving students and adding more content related to the growth of our program.
Congratulations to all of our graduates, and thank you to all of our supporters through the years!