CUNY Unlimited FIG No. 1 Fall 2021
The meeting took place on Sept. 21st at 12.00 pm. 12 members attended including 5 faculty, 3 students, two of which were alumni, (one of whom is a Melissa Riggio alumnus who we are delighted to stay in touch with) together with for 4 staff/ admin. He is the only person to sensibly stretch and move during the hour plus long meeting!
During introductions the Melissa Riggio student mentioned that the program had a new coordinator Frank Laskowitz. This was good to know for future collaborations and communications. We wish Jason Lau former coordinator all the best in his new administrative (promotion) role!
The group then watched a new 35 min. documentary by Dan Habib: Opening doors to college. Habib directed Intelligent lives which the FIG had watched and discussed in the Spring of 2020. A lively discussion followed as there were obvious parallels with the Temple and Millersville University programs to CUNY Unlimited programs and the Melissa Riggio program at KCC.
One of the criticisms of Habib’s documentary was that he did not interview or involve under graduates in the film, nor did he involve mentors. It has been researched (and spoken of many times in the FIG) that inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities benefits both undergraduates and Melissa Riggio students as well as the college community as a whole. Undergraduate mentors too have been seen to benefit greatly from their interactions, mentoring and indeed friendships with the Melissa Riggio students and these important elements were missing in Opening doors to college.
A number of the FIG members have been working diligently on a story board and costing for a film to be made at KCC to introduce and encourage faculty to include students with intellectual disabilities in their classrooms. With this in mind our own forthcoming short documentary will include all stake holders!
As is often the case the FIG meeting ran way over the hour as members enjoyed discussing the film at length!
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