April is disability awareness month at CUNY and there are some great events planned that all CUNY students can participate in. Year-round, students with disabilities face added obstacles that make pursuing an education challenging. Disabilities can range from physical to mental, and often come with stigma that can be a barrier to seeking help. All college students, even graduate and doctoral students, are eligible for accommodations if they have medical documentation of their disability. They just have to know who at their school to reach out to for support. CUNY SPH students have the Office of Accessibility Services in their corner to help them succeed.
In this episode of the Making Public Health Personal podcast, we speak with the Disability Coordinator for students here at SPH. Jeanette Rodriguez is a resident of the South Bronx and has worked in various roles at CUNY SPH since 2014. In addition to advocating for students with disabilities, she is also currently the Executive Assistant to the CUNY SPH Dean. Her passion is for helping others and encouraging her community to give back to those in need.
Host Laura Meoli-Ferrigon speaks with Jeanette about the accommodations available to students with disabilities, and how they can obtain that support. We explore what exactly is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and future plans for the office to increase participation, eliminate stigma, and bring more awareness to the topic of student accessibility.
Episode Links:
CUNY Disability Awareness month events: https://www.cuny.edu/current-students/student-affairs/black-history-month-events-2-version/
To inquire and/or request accommodations with the Office of Accessibility at CUNY SPH, email: accessibility@sph.cuny.edu
Office of Accessibility Services at CUNY SPH: https://sph.cuny.edu/students/student-services/office-of-accessibility-services/
CUNY Disability Services: https://www.cuny.edu/current-students/student-affairs/student-services/disability/
CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities:
https://www.facebook.com/CCSDadvocates/info
Children & Adults with ADHD podcasts: www.CHADD.org
Download a transcript of this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/liwr2jx7y7nm0rw/Episode%206%20Transcript.txt?dl=0