By Jasmin Shirley
The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand new 3D printer and LED microscope, devices which are intended to assist all students but especially those with impaired vision or neurodivergent conditions to engage with a variety of science and art-based learning opportunities.
The ceremony was held to promote awareness for students about the equipment that was given to select colleges with the assistance of CUNY Vice Chancellor Denise Maybanks. She helped York get this equipment.
Interim University Director of Disability Programs Raymond Perez and Truett Lee Vaigner Jr, who is the lead specialist of the CSD staff were among those in attendance.
During the ceremony each speaker was given an opportunity to discuss how they came about their involvement with the CSD and how involved they were with helping students gain accessibility to learning with disabilities. Perez, who noted that he worked for the CUNY system for over 20 years, said he’s always been engaged with providing services for students with disabilities and that he felt the event was successful and showed the progress of benefits for those students to have access without limitations for their education using this technology.
“I was happy to take on the challenge of finding ways to use technology to help those who needed a better outlet to get hands-on with their learning,” said Perez.
Maybanks pointed out the many opportunities the new equipment could provide to York’s students.
“With this assistance technology, it can help remove barriers to creative individuals and use devices like this to do great things without the limitation of a student or child’s disability,” said Maybanks. The audience was shown pieces that were made from the 3D printer of a plant cell as well as a 3D printed boat.
The audience was also given a preview from York’s faculty members Professor Fawwaz Allie and Professor Maria Pia Di Bonaventura, who showed how the LED microscope works and how it would support students with low vision or blindness in hopes they would engage in STEM.
The new equipment is located in the lab room next to the CSD center in room 1G02.
