Becca Colangelo

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Assistant Director, Meaningful Community Services, Kennedy Krieger Institute

Dr. Rebecca “Becca” Colangelo has dedicated her career to improving educational and community-based services for adults with disabilities. As assistant director of Meaningful Community Services at Kennedy Krieger Institute, she has been instrumental in developing and expanding the Neurodiversity at Work department, which now serves more than 70 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities daily.

Colangelo’s passion for supporting neurodiverse individuals stems from her background as a special education teacher. She recognized a substantial gap in support for individuals with disabilities transitioning from high school to adulthood. This insight led her to help create innovative programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute, focusing on providing meaningful access to community and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

“Dr. Colangelo realized that all adults, regardless of ability, deserve meaningful access to their community and opportunities for employment,” said Rachel Tracz, manager of Meaningful Day Services at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Beyond her primary role, Colangelo is committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders in the field. She works as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and oversees a trainee program at Kennedy Krieger Institute, providing hands-on experience to undergraduate and graduate students from local universities.

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