By Jeremy Zhe-Heimerman, Assistant Director of Disability Resources
Our office views disability as part of the full spectrum of human diversity. We see our work as an expression of the College’s commitment to make equal access and inclusive excellence an institution-wide responsibility. One way we are furthering this commitment is through our work in the President’s Council on Inclusive Excellence (PCIE) and the Campus Climate on Diversity Committee (CCDC).
PCIE brings together stakeholders from the campus community to address issues of diversity and inclusion. As a member of the Council, Sue Sprague contributes to these discussions and raises issues that impact students living with disabilities.
CCDC is charged with getting a better understanding of the campus climate on diversity and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, this will contribute to the College making all identity groups feel welcome, respected, and included as integral members of the campus community. This semester CCDC held separate focus group discussions on the campus climate on race, gender/gender expression/sexual orientation, (dis)ability, and religion and spirituality. Additional information was gathered at the Black Student Union town hall events. Information from all of these sessions was used to begin creating immediate change in several areas and also to create a campus climate survey that will be administered in the Fall semester. While participating in CCDC, Jeremy Zhe-Heimerman and Christina Papaleo are working to ensure that the disability climate is fairly measured and addressed.