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<p>According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 19.4 percent of undergraduate students and 11.9 percent of all graduate students enrolled in college have a disability. As of October 2018, SUNY serves 43 percent of self-identified college students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions in New York State.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The SUNY Empowering Students with Disability Task Force will present a plan to break down barriers to higher education for individuals with disabilities,&rdquo; said Chancellor Malatras. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what our SUNY for All program is all about&mdash;there is a place at SUNY for anyone seeking opportunity through higher education. This commitment to our students with disabilities will send a strong message along with concrete actions to ensure any person with a disability experiences a campus that is fully accessible, free of stigma, and is provided with the full range of academic opportunities they deserve.&rdquo;</p>

<p>SUNY Board Trustee Camille Joseph Varlack said, &ldquo;SUNY was founded with the mission to provide equal access to a premier higher education for all students, and we must continue to build on this promise to ensure our campuses remain inclusive and accessible for all. We are proud of all the members of the Empowering Students with Disability Task Force who have dedicated their time and passion to examine any barriers to an education that may exist on our campuses, and develop real and meaningful reforms to strengthen our commitment to our students with disabilities.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The Task Force is charged with the following:</p>

<ul>
<li>Improving Accessibility: To survey and review all campuses on the accessibility they provide for students with disabilities in classrooms, labs, libraries, cafeterias, housing, and transportation. To remove not only physical, but emotional and social barriers to an inclusive learning environment.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Stigma &amp; Ableism: To acknowledge that students who disclose a disability face negative stereotypes, inaccurate assessments of their ability to complete college-level work, and increased likelihood of self-doubt and academic anxiety. To actively address negative stereotypes and misinformation on all SUNY campuses.</li>
<li>Increasing Academic Opportunities: To determine if recruitment efforts are equal for students with disabilities, to ensure enrolled students receive the same opportunities for advancement and opportunity, with accommodations as necessary. To highlight the strengths of students with disabilities and bring pride to their achievements.</li>
</ul>

<p>The Task Force will bolster efforts across SUNY that includes the creation of the SUNY Empire Center for Autism Inclusivity, which focuses on providing support and conducting research to better serve individuals with autism in the classroom; the &ldquo;CareerNext&rdquo; program at SUNY Cobleskill, which offers personalized academic and residential support for students with Autism and learning differences; as well as SUNY Dutchess Community College&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Ahead&rdquo; program, which helps those with intellectual disabilities to develop job and life skills.</p>

<p>The full release is available on the <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/11-21/11-2-2021/disability-task-force-members.html">SUNY website</a>.</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

Chancellor Appoints Members of the SUNY Empowering Students with Disability Task Force

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced the members of the SUNY Empowering Students with Disability Task Force to uncover barriers and find solutions to improve accessibility, eliminate stigma, and create academic opportunities for students with disabilities across its 64 colleges and universities. A total of 28 members will join the first-ever SUNY task force, representing higher education, advocacy organizations, and government. The Task Force started on Nov. 2 with a virtual meeting with SUNY Cobleskill President Marion Terenzio and SUNY Empire Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea, who the Chancellor appointed to lead the task force in July.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 19.4 percent of undergraduate students and 11.9 percent of all graduate students enrolled in college have a disability. As of October 2018, SUNY serves 43 percent of self-identified college students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions in New York State.

“The SUNY Empowering Students with Disability Task Force will present a plan to break down barriers to higher education for individuals with disabilities,” said Chancellor Malatras. “That’s what our SUNY for All program is all about—there is a place at SUNY for anyone seeking opportunity through higher education. This commitment to our students with disabilities will send a strong message along with concrete actions to ensure any person with a disability experiences a campus that is fully accessible, free of stigma, and is provided with the full range of academic opportunities they deserve.”

SUNY Board Trustee Camille Joseph Varlack said, “SUNY was founded with the mission to provide equal access to a premier higher education for all students, and we must continue to build on this promise to ensure our campuses remain inclusive and accessible for all. We are proud of all the members of the Empowering Students with Disability Task Force who have dedicated their time and passion to examine any barriers to an education that may exist on our campuses, and develop real and meaningful reforms to strengthen our commitment to our students with disabilities.”

The Task Force is charged with the following:

  • Improving Accessibility: To survey and review all campuses on the accessibility they provide for students with disabilities in classrooms, labs, libraries, cafeterias, housing, and transportation. To remove not only physical, but emotional and social barriers to an inclusive learning environment.
  • Stigma & Ableism: To acknowledge that students who disclose a disability face negative stereotypes, inaccurate assessments of their ability to complete college-level work, and increased likelihood of self-doubt and academic anxiety. To actively address negative stereotypes and misinformation on all SUNY campuses.
  • Increasing Academic Opportunities: To determine if recruitment efforts are equal for students with disabilities, to ensure enrolled students receive the same opportunities for advancement and opportunity, with accommodations as necessary. To highlight the strengths of students with disabilities and bring pride to their achievements.

The Task Force will bolster efforts across SUNY that includes the creation of the SUNY Empire Center for Autism Inclusivity, which focuses on providing support and conducting research to better serve individuals with autism in the classroom; the “CareerNext” program at SUNY Cobleskill, which offers personalized academic and residential support for students with Autism and learning differences; as well as SUNY Dutchess Community College’s “Think Ahead” program, which helps those with intellectual disabilities to develop job and life skills.

The full release is available on the SUNY website.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
11/04/2021