First FIG Meeting (Fall, 2024) – CUNY Unlimited Campuses Unite!
The first Kingsborough CUNY Unlimited Faculty Development Group (FDG) meeting of Fall 2024 brought together 15 participants to share, discuss, and explore the latest initiatives, challenges, and future plans regarding the inclusion of students with intellectual and other disabilities in higher education at Kingsborough, CUNY campuses with the CUNY Unlimited program, and beyond.
Participants included undergraduate alumni and alumni from the Melissa Riggio Program, faculty, and administrators from both the Melissa Riggio Program and Kingsborough’s Accessibility Office. Also in attendance were Ingrid Geier from Salzburg University, who will serve as the Fulbright Scholar in residence, and Penny Soden, who works with Perkins funding. We also welcomed the new head of Access-Ability at KCC, Althea Maduramente. Additionally, Ruchika Chopra, our colleague from the CUNY Central Disability Office, joined us and was introduced. Unfortunately, Dean Carrie Shockley was unable to attend the meeting due to jury service.
The meeting began with introductions and news that two MRHEP students would have internships at Joan Snow Pre-K during their fourth and final year, having previously completed their fieldwork there. Special thanks to Professor Lisa Esposito for making this opportunity possible! Michael Lettman, an alumnus of the MRHEP, reminded us that October is Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Co-facilitators Jeremy Sawyer and Ruchika presented a summary of the new CUNY Unlimited Faculty Engagement Project, offering a brief overview. A discussion followed about Kingsborough being a model for other campuses but lacking Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) approval. Various ideas for achieving this were suggested, including questions about how other campuses were able to gain approval while Kingsborough has not. Further conversations on this issue were recommended beyond the FIG meeting.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of faculty participation in hosting students and ongoing communication challenges between Kingsborough administration, faculty, and MRHEP administration. It was noted that once KCC is CTP-approved, many of these issues should be resolved. In the meantime, further discussions on these matters were proposed outside of the FIG meeting. Additionally, ways to increase the visibility of the MRHEP were discussed, including a film script created by Carol Carielli and Margot Cole to promote the program. Kensaku Matsuda from the MRHEP administration offered to provide information at department meetings or to department chairs, and Jeremy Sawyer volunteered to assist with scheduling information.
The meeting concluded with a short visual presentation of the Mural Project at Café Joyeux, an inclusive café where an MRHEP alumnus is now employed. Facilitated by Sue Carpenter, co-facilitator of the FIG, participants were invited to attend the opening.
Although no new faculty from other CUNY campuses attended this meeting, we remain hopeful that word will spread and that they will attend future meetings and drop-in sessions. Our next meeting will be a site visit to the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY), on October 28th at 3:30 p.m. CIDNY is located at 1010 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 301, New York, NY 10018. We will discuss their advocacy work in education and explore potential collaboration opportunities. We hope to see you there!
Sue & Jeremy
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