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accessibility

Two Initiatives at SUNY Niagara Increase Attention and Support for Students with Disabilities

By News Archive

April 12, 2023

A two-person team from SUNY Niagara has earned sponsorship to the world’s pre-eminent event for and advancing disability inclusion in higher education.

Professor Mark Voisinet of the college’s Business & STEM Division and Kevin Beato, SUNY Niagara’s accommodated testing and adaptive technology specialist, will participate in the 2023 Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education. They are one of just 20 teams nationwide to receive funding from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute for Technology to attend the conference, which will take place in Portland, Ore., in July.

“We have accepted this grant to allow us to continue to gain more knowledge as well as build a network of colleagues nationally to assist the SUNY Niagara technology programs in building more diverse learning environments,” said Voisinet. “Being an alumnus of RIT and having been educated side-by-side with NTID students we are hoping to foster a more inclusive approach to disabled students and in particular those that are hearing impaired.”

Beato also is co-advisor of a club formed this month at SUNY Niagara for students with disabilities and their allies. The Wellness Club is a safe-space for disabled students and their advocates. Its goal is to create a community of belonging, awareness and acceptance.

“The Wellness Club’s launch will help our campus maintain a welcoming environment for all,” said SUNY Niagara Vice President of Academic Affairs Lydia Ulatowski. “Likewise, our presence at the AHEAD conference will ensure that our college continues to respond appropriately each student’s unique challenges.”

AHEAD is a leading professional organization committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education. Founded in 1977, AHEAD works to promote research, best practices and information about emerging issues related to disability in higher education. The organization’s membership now exceeds 4,000, representing all 50 states and more than 10 countries.

A two-person team from SUNY Niagara has earned sponsorship to the world’s pre-eminent event for and advancing disability inclusion in higher education.

Professor Mark Voisinet of the college’s Business & STEM Division and Kevin Beato, SUNY Niagara’s accommodated testing and adaptive technology specialist, will participate in the 2023 Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education. They are one of just 20 teams nationwide to receive funding from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute for Technology to attend the conference, which will take place in Portland, Ore., in July.

“We have accepted this grant to allow us to continue to gain more knowledge as well as build a network of colleagues nationally to assist the SUNY Niagara technology programs in building more diverse learning environments,” said Voisinet. “Being an alumnus of RIT and having been educated side-by-side with NTID students we are hoping to foster a more inclusive approach to disabled students and in particular those that are hearing impaired.”

Beato also is co-advisor of a club formed this month at SUNY Niagara for students with disabilities and their allies. The Wellness Club is a safe-space for disabled students and their advocates. Its goal is to create a community of belonging, awareness and acceptance.

“The Wellness Club’s launch will help our campus maintain a welcoming environment for all,” said SUNY Niagara Vice President of Academic Affairs Lydia Ulatowski. “Likewise, our presence at the AHEAD conference will ensure that our college continues to respond appropriately each student’s unique challenges.”

AHEAD is a leading professional organization committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education. Founded in 1977, AHEAD works to promote research, best practices and information about emerging issues related to disability in higher education. The organization’s membership now exceeds 4,000, representing all 50 states and more than 10 countries.


Media Contact Information

Denyel Beiter
Public Relations Assistant
Phone: 716-614-5974
Email: Dbeiter@niagaracc.suny.edu

SUNY Niagara students

SUNY Niagara Takes Steps in Making Higher Education More Affordable and Accessible

By News Archive

April 19, 2021

In an effort to reduce college-related expenses, SUNY Niagara is joining a SUNY-wide effort to offer low-cost and zero-cost instructional materials. By utilizing Open Education Resources (OER), students enrolled in courses with this option will have the ability to cut costs dramatically without sacrificing the quality of their education.

A low-cost OER course ensures materials will not exceed $50 for a given class. The zero-cost OER option facilitates access to free course materials, eliminating the necessity of purchasing textbooks and multimedia components. In place of costly course-related supplies, OER allow students to utilize open licenses and public domain resources, which include rentable or downloadable textbooks, journals, articles, labs, lectures, videos, games, and other supporting materials. Resources will also be provided from the course instructor, SUNY Niagara’s Barnes & Noble retail shops, Henrietta G. Lewis Library at SUNY Niagara, SUNY, and additional vendors.

This initiative is available to all students, regardless of income. Its design is intended to make higher education more affordable. Additionally, Both SUNY Niagara and SUNY are making accessibility to these materials a priority. OER will feature adaptive technology for students with disabilities, facilitating new ways of accessible education for all.

This effort is beneficial to instructors as well, providing teaching resources and support. Instructors will have the ability to network with other faculty members to advance the impact of OER. They will also have access to professional development opportunities and can work directly with SUNY OER Services to integrate learning content into their curriculum. OER options give faculty members the freedom to curate a course methodically, allowing them to enrich students’ learning experience precisely.

The OER courses will be available during the summer and fall 2021 semesters in which students are currently registering. Courses which offer low-cost and zero-cost materials are available across many disciplines, satisfying general education requirements as well as classes which are specific to an individual’s program. There are already more than 60 sections with OER planned for fall 2021 at SUNY Niagara. To learn more about classes which feature OER, visit https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/academics/oer

SUNY Niagara students

SUNY Niagara is making it possible for students to learn through low cost and zero cost course materials, many of which are available online.


Media Contact Information

Denyel Beiter
Event Coordinator, Public Relations and Event Management
Phone: 716-614-5974
Email: dbeiter@niagaracc.suny.edu

Collin Lacki

SUNY Niagara student advocates for accessibility at SUNY campuses

By News Archive

November 30, 2020

Collin Lacki is a sophomore at SUNY Niagara studying music in hopes of pursuing a career in music therapy one day.  He decided to enroll at SUNY Niagara because of the quality education he could receive at the College, while still getting a typical on-campus experience away from his home in Brocton, New York.  As a student with a disability, a quality education for Collin also meant receiving support through the Accessibility Services Office on campus.

As a blind student growing up in the small Chautauqua County Village of Brocton, Collin did not always have access to the resources he needed to set him up for academic success in elementary and high school.  “Many younger students with disabilities are not sure if they want to continue on to higher education because of all of the barriers they encounter,” says Collin.  He wants to push those students toward higher education and points to the commitment made by the State University of New York (SUNY) System in providing services and resources needed for students with disabilities to succeed.

Having years of experience advocating for his own needs has given Collin the confidence to take on a new challenge to help other students statewide.  He was recently selected to be a part of the newly formed SUNY Student Voices Action Committee to advise SUNY leadership on emerging, critical issues, and challenges facing students across the SUNY System.  He was chosen after receiving a nomination from Alissa Shugats-Cummings, Director of Career and Transitional Services at SUNY Niagara.

“I suggested Collin for a seat on the SUNY Student Voices Action Committee because during his time at SUNY Niagara I have seen him develop and demonstrate skills that make him a model not only for students with disabilities but for all SUNY students. He is a hard worker, a diligent student, a friend to all. We are proud to have him represent SUNY Niagara SUNY-wide,” says Alissa.  As one of 27 students statewide to participate in the committee, Collin is using his voice to ensure the topic of accessibility remains in the focus of SUNY administration, and he hopes his contributions will promote positive changes that improve the educational experience for all students.

Collin has high praise for Accessibility Services Coordinator Steve Burns and Alissa Shugats-Cummings, two employees who go out of their way to assist students through their roles in the Career and Transitional Services Department at SUNY Niagara.  This department is an umbrella for Accessibility Services, Career Services, Transfer Services, and the Student Success Center.  “The staff makes the office what it is,” says Collin.  He is hopeful that through relationships he has established on campus and his new appointment to the SUNY-wide committee, he can continue to make a positive impact not only for himself but empower others as well.  Collin has advice for others with disabilities: “Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.  The only way you’ll get the help you need is by speaking up!”

The mission of Accessibility Services is to provide academic adjustments and appropriate support to students with disabilities in the most inclusive setting possible and to enhance student independence while promoting self-advocacy.  For more information on Accessibility Services at SUNY Niagara, visit: https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/accessibility-services/ or call 716-614-6285.


Media Contact Information

Sara Harvey
Assistant Director of Public Relations and Event Management
Phone: 716-614-6220
Email: saharvey@niagaracc.suny.edu