Pictured above: B次元 Senior Vice President Victoria Battell (left) and Maureen O鈥橞rien outside of the Frank E. O鈥橞rien Jr. Student Support Center where the Office of Accessibility Services is located.
B次元 students are each here to pave their unique pathway to academic success and eventual employment. This includes students with disabilities.
Throughout National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March, and Autism Awareness Month in April, individuals with disabilities and support organizations like NYSID advocate for equal opportunities for academic, residential, social and employment inclusion.
Inspiring disability mindfulness is the first step in breaking down barriers and opening up these opportunities. Understanding and facilitating the needs of individuals with disabilities, whether they affect physical health, mental health or otherwise, drives inclusion. Inclusion ultimately helps reduce poverty levels that too often impact individuals with disabilities, and influences other critical issues like access to adequate health care and nutrition. It will also develop an awareness of both the needs and abilities of individuals with disabilities in the next generation of community and business leaders. .
Studies show that including individuals with disabilities in academic and workplace settings builds morale throughout an organization. I鈥檓 proud to say that NYSID鈥檚 teams of co-workers, mentors and friends includes individuals with disabilities and those without.
Further, I鈥檓 delighted to share that NYSID sponsors an annual assistive technology challenge that partners engineering students with disability service organizations. You鈥檇 be amazed by the innovative ideas that these future engineers create to make work environments more accessible to individuals with disabilities. I invite you to stop by our annual CREATE symposium on April 25 to see demonstrations of this year鈥檚 projects. .
I firmly believe that we have the power to influence mindsets about inclusion for individuals with disabilities that will make a lasting impact. While at Maria, and when you move on from your college experience, I hope your awareness of the needs and abilities of individuals with disabilities will have been heightened, and that you鈥檒l be a champion for workplaces that include opportunities for all.
Maureen E. O鈥橞rien
President & CEO, New York State Industries for the Disabled/NYSID
Trustee, B次元