By Frank Roman
York College’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) made its annual trip to Albany on Student Empowerment Day in a joint state-wide effort, rallying for over $6 million dollars for students with disabilities.
“I need my disability accommodations like I need air,” said Bernadette Perna, York College Nursing major. She depends on a special accommodation device, Auto A. I., which acts similarly to a recorder equipped with a closed-captioning system for her class lectures. The CSD, however, is in desperate need of funding to even dream of receiving the accessibility aid, as the cost for an Auto A.I system totals to $100 dollars a year per student.
Perna knows how important it is to advocate at the state capitol for the needed money. “If we did not go to Albany every single year to ask for money, a lot of the students’ accommodations would not be met,” she said. “This would only result in students giving up and quitting school.”
Charmaine Townsell, senior director of wellness and resources at York College, is also aware of the students’ need for reasonable accommodations. In a display of alliance with the university’s students as the head organizer, the lack of funding is something Townsell is willing to bring to the attention of the New York legislature.
“As mistress of ceremonies, I am going to be coordinating ceremonies when we arrive in Albany,” Townsell said. “I have the honor of introducing some really dynamic folks from across the state. We are doing this in partnership with Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemble Member Harvey Epstein. Governor Kathy Hochul is aware of our requests, but it is important for us to reaffirm that message to the senators, assembly members, and the governor.”
A coalition of colleges within the city and state is going to press for the essential accommodations for students with disabilities, granted by the Americans with Disabilities Act—a civil rights legislation covering all students with disabilities.
“I have been engaged in supporting students for multiple years, and it has become an annual event,” Townsell said. “Because we are constantly trying to get the much-needed support that should go to students with disabilities. Also, I am proud of our students in their empowerment efforts, which led to receiving $2 million dollars, during the time of distance learning. Now, I am grateful that our students are going to Albany to ask for over $6 million dollars that will be able to support all CUNY students with disabilities.”
Townsell added that CUNY students will get the chance to witness York’s welcoming atmosphere, thus, initiating the team spirit.
“So, I am pleased that York College will be the bus site for all of Queens and Long Island,” Townsell said. “We are thankful for the CUNY Central office, which will supply transportation to us. Buses will be stationed by the Academic Core building.”
Katherine Catinac-Vaquero, a York Social Work major minoring in Cinematography, knows the power of a uniformed community. “I feel this trip is important because it gives us a sense of unity, not just York, not just CUNY, but with students all over New York,” she said. “So, seeing other students asking for the same thing, it is going to encourage students to speak up and want to speak up even more. They are going to see that they are not alone in the struggles that we all face or the needs that we need.”
“The sky’s the limit as to what can be done with the funds received from the government,” Townsell said. “Unfortunately, the money is not limitless. However, the money can level the playing field for students with disabilities. It is important that our students receive a quality education here at the university.”
