IMPACT Innovation receives grant for new 12-seater van
Improving access and expanding community connections for adults with IDD
New 12-seater transit van unveiled during ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo/Nikki Murray
The IMPACT Innovation program of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Education Center is proud to announce the award of a generous Section 5310 grant from the 2023 cycle, which has made it possible to purchase a brand-new 12-seater transit van. This grant will support transportation needs for adults with autism, helping increase access to essential community engagement opportunities, job sites, and educational experiences across the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky regions.
This exciting milestone would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts and support from key partners. A special thank you goes to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI) Regional Council of Governments, whose guidance and support were instrumental in securing the grant. Their continued commitment to improving transportation accessibility is making a meaningful difference in the lives of those served by the program.
From left to right: Nick Hart, American Bus; Jenny Newcomb, OKI; Meredith Finn, Transportation Coordinator; Dr. Genna Kieper, Director of IMPACT Innovation; Shelbie Collopy, Business Manager; and Joann Ramsey, IMPACT Program Manager at the IDD Education Center. Photo/Nikki Murray
We would also like to recognize the team at the IDD Education Center for their dedication and thoughtful grant writing efforts that brought this vision to life. Their commitment to the mission of IMPACT Innovation continues to create new opportunities for the associates.
Additionally, we are incredibly grateful to American Bus, who worked closely with the team to ensure we received the right transit van to fit the needs. Their attention to detail and exceptional service helped make the process smooth and successful.
This month marked a special celebration as IMPACT Innovation held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome the new transit van. The event featured Shannon Molloy, IMPACT’s very first associate, as the honorary ribbon cutter alongside Genna Kieper, IMPACT Director, and Meredith Finn, IMPACT Transportation Coordinator.
From left to right: Meredith Finn, Transportation Coordinator; Shannon Molloy, IMPACT Associate; and Dr. Genna Kieper, Director of IMPACT Innovation, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new transit van. Photo/Nikki Murray
All associates who were on campus that day had the chance to take a joyful “victory ride” in the transit van around UC’s campus. Associates shared their excitement about the smooth ride and loved the 360-degree view the new vehicle offers compared to the previous van.
“IMPACT is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to provide transportation directly to and from our program for over half of the participants. Providing high-quality services like this would not be possible without the support from organizations like the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. The Section 5310 grant allows programs like IMPACT and others who serve seniors and individuals with disabilities to expand transportation services and begin to address these barriers. IMPACT is extremely grateful for their support of our program since 2022.” said Dr. Genna Kieper, Director of IMPACT Innovation.
Access to consistent, reliable transportation is a pervasive barrier in our community.
Dr. Genna Kieper, Director of IMPACT Innovation
Meredith Finn, Transportation Coordinator for IMPACT Innovation, shared, “Lack of reliable transportation options can be a barrier to employment, recreation, school, and general community access. An essential function of IMPACT’s community-based programming is our ability to offer transportation services to and from UC for many of our associates. Being able to count on on-time, dependable, and consistent transportation is vital to the overall success of our program and our associate's day.”
The new transit van will allow associates to travel more comfortably and safely to a variety of locations across the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region from internship sites to community outings.
For more information about IMPACT Innovation or to learn how you can support the program, visit the program's website - Impact Innovation.
IDD Education Center
UC’s IDD Education Center’s mission is to create meaningful, life-changing experiences for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through innovative research, education and service. Nested in UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and IT (CECH), the IDD Education Center provides programs for teens and adults to further their education, independence, and life skills. Program participants reach their potential and find their purpose in a community that accepts and supports them to be the best they can be. The IDD Education Center embraces the University’s strategic direction of Next Lives Here, breaking boundaries and providing opportunities for employment, social connections, and life-long learning.
We believe every individual possesses unique power, potential, and purpose.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Cincinnati CIO Roundtable and UC's School of Information Technology announce a new partnership
February 26, 2026
The University of Cincinnati’s School of Information Technology (SoIT) is preparing to announce a historic collaborative partnership with the Cincinnati CIO Roundtable, a unique and collegial forum for chief information officers in the region's largest organizations. The official announcement, which includes a formal signing, will take place on March 4th, 2026, at the University of Cincinnati Teachers Dyer Complex, room 407 (Annie Laws) at 11:30 a.m. The goal of the collaboration, says SoIT director Hazem Said, is to close the gap between the classroom and the boardroom.
DTS hosts successful annual conference on AI and emerging tech
February 23, 2026
Hundreds of University of Cincinnati students, faculty, and staff members turned out for the third annual Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) AI & Emerging Technology Symposium, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in UC's Tangeman University Center.
Social media linked to student loneliness
February 20, 2026
Inside Higher Education highlighted a new study by the University of Cincinnati that found that college students across the country who spent more time on social media reported feeling more loneliness.