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FIG 2 Spring 2024
Our second FIG of Spring 2024 was attended by 14 people on April 11th on line at 3.00pm. The inclusive FIG participants included 2 staff from the Accessibility office at KCC, 6 faculty, 2 alumni, one undergrad and one Melissa Riggio alum, plus 2 current students, and 2 Melissa Riggio staff. A truly inclusive group of disability advocates!
We began the meeting with updates from Margot Cole alum of KCC, now an undergraduate at Penn State University re. her advocacy work there, a review of the Autism Walk as part of KCC’s Disability Awareness Week, updates regarding 2 MRHEP students field placements in EDC4000 and a reminder of the CUNY Neurodiversity Conference!
The main section of the meeting was a discussion about Dr Stephen Shore’s (autistic professor at Adelphi University) keynote address at KCC. Please see enclosed recording/ the zoom link. The meeting finished in an upbeat way with Michael Lettman’s updated Youtube channel coverage of his read aloud with KCDC and the Autism walk! Sing Along & Symposium! – Living with Autism by Michael Lettman (youtube.com)
Our next meeting is May 2nd at 12.00 with Donatella Camedda from Trinity College Dublin’s inclusive center/ program for students with intellectual disabilities, followed by lunch with our guest. All welcome! This meeting will be hybrid.
CUNY Unlimited FIG 3 Fall 2022
This lively and productive last meeting of 2023 on December 3rd included 17 members: 5 faculty, 3 students (including from the Melissa Riggio Program (MRHEP) and 9 administrators. This allowed for all stake holders to discuss issues around the upcoming CUNY Unlimited roll out and to introduce themselves and their work. In particular, Dean Bondar explained her current work with the MRHEP and Aida Wanis was welcomed-the new administrator for MRHEP introduced herself.
Other topics that were covered included:
The timing of the CUNY Unlimited roll out
Melissa Riggio students participating in education fieldwork with the support of a mentor – part of the Education strand
Alternative assessment in all audited courses for MRHEP students
Employment for students without a high school diploma, the Florida model, and how it relates to NY State
Report from the INHEF Conference in Corke, Ireland. Sue Carpenter was a keynote speaker with Michael Lettman a student from the MRHEP contributing too.
The meeting as always ran over time and ended with the singing of ‘Winter Wonderland’ !
Fall 2022 First meeting
First FIG Meeting Fall 2022
(9/19/2022) 3pm
Welcome – introductions for new members. 12 attended.
Margot is now attending PSU Harrisburg and head of the Student unlimited group there now
Safia – 2016 graduate of the MRHEP volunteering at the Gigi playhouse – and is looking for work Karen. Nick, Anna K. Linda A. Carol. Stella, Michael. Al-Rawi. Karen, Laura Jeremy and Sue also attended.
Concerns aired re. communication channels between faculty, MRHEP admin, etc.
Stella: CUNY Unlimited update. Hostos, BMCC, and Queensboro in process. Stella asked about KCC and was told we need a person to coordinate CU, but KCC cannot afford to hire someone for the position. But Hostos just had someone already working in the college do the job on a PT basis. Laura is willing to do that. KCC. Dean Cook and Stella will be meeting with her soon to get things moving for CU. Just the application needs to go out… then 2-3 months to process it (DOE) to get an answer. Could be a Spring rollout, fingers crossed.
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Lisa: Employment advocacy update (MRHEP Education strand and later jobs) Progress re. conversations at the State level re. creating a new job line for students/ prospective employees who do not have a high school diploma.
Sue: Growing European movement for inclusion. INHEF news from the Republic of Ireland, colleges who previously had private funding now have government for the inclusion programs they now have. European conference upcoming.
Oct. 27-28 Salzburg Conference – everyone welcome! Euro colleagues are getting together with U.S. colleagues. Republic of Ireland (south) IHE UK group to possibly form a not-for-profit charity that will allow the work to continue on an institutional level. Meeting upcoming in October
Jeremy: Students Unlimited 4pm Weds. Meetings of Students Unlimited. Jeremy met with them and talked about possible collaborations on mutual activities and support (Karen and Margot have input)
Linking and communicating with admin. (Dean Yelena Bondar and Dean Cook in particular to reach out to.
The Disability Pride Parade is Back in NYC! Sunday, October 2, 2022. 10am-12pm, Madison Square Park to Union Square Park. http://disabilitypridenyc.org/
*Ideas for next meeting? *Invite Students Unlimited and Dean Bondar
Cuny Unlimited No. 3 Telling our stories and Making waves music outreach
Here is a recording of our second contribution to KCC’s Disability Awareness week
Telling our stories: lived experience of students and faculty at KCC-DAW 2022 – YouTube
And a further recording Sue Carpenter co- facilitator of the FIG presented on
Telling our stories: lived experience of students and faculty at KCC-DAW 2022 – YouTube
Cuny Unlimited No 2
Here is a link to contribution No. 1 to KCC’s Disability Awareness Week. Enjoy!
“Opening Doors to College” with the CUNY Unlimited Faculty Interest Group-KCC DAW 2022 – YouTube
Spring 2019
Meeting 1: March 27th
The first Fig of the Spring semester brought together 4 faculty, 2 administrators and a guest speaker Donald Welch. 2 of the faculty were new to the FIG.
The FIG began with updates and discussion regarding the rolling out of Cuny Unlimited and specifically where the program was to be housed at KCC. This question was brought to the attention of the central Cuny Accessibility office.
Enid Stubin a new member of the FIG spoke about her inclusion of Melissa Riggio students in her English/Shakespeare class. This led to the FIG facilitator sitting in on the class and seeing how inclusive the class was with a MRHEP student reading the part of Henry V. An impressive inclusive model.
The guest speaker Donald Welch spoke about his work as a poet and working with students on the spectrum. This creative work included rhythm, movement, and literacy and could be easily integrated into inclusive classrooms whether in music, education or English.
Meeting 2: 3rd April
The second FIG of the semester was just a week later to co-ordinate with KCC’s Accessibility Week. The topic for the week was around disability and employment. Therefore 3 Melissa Riggio alumni students were invited to present on their experience of employment and internships. 2 faculty, 4 staff , including form the Accessibility office, 2 students and the 3 guests were present. Refreshments were also provided by the Accessibility Office.
The challenges that the alumni had faced finding employment was sobering. Although all were personable, willing and eager to work only one had paid work. The two other alumni were volunteering. the stigma and discrimination regarding disability in the work force was evident.
The alumni were delighted to be invited and photographs were taken out on the KCTL terrace over looking the sea.
Meeting 3: May 15th
The third and final FIG brought together 3 faculty including Don Huime head of Physical education and one new faculty member from the art department, 2 staff and one MRHEP mentor
Challenges and good news was shared….
Kensaku Matsuda administrator the Melissa Riggio program reported that some students now had access to KCC emails and the library. He also reported that the allocation of classes for MRHEP students was now through the Presidents Office.
Sue Carpenter spoke of her visit to Enid Stubin’s class, and mention was made of the MRHEP being given a presidential award at the KCC Seaside Splash in June.
A MRHEP student’s involvement in the Photography Club was also mentioned, and how his involvement in it had developed his social skills and self esteem.
Carole Gothelf director of the MRHEP program had presented on Willowbrook for a Psych 2400 class in May. She had spoken about how 50 years ago young adult with disabilities were living in inhumane conditions in Willowbrook and now 50 years later there were able to attend college. The question was then posed as to who FIG members thoughts and aspirations were for 50 years time? The word inclusion was suggested to be obsolete.
Sue Carpenter spoke briefly about her sabbatical in Europe – including presenting and researching at Southampton University Institute for Inclusion, Trinity College Dublin and Salzburg University Austria.
Prof. Jeremy Sawyer ( Psych and Education ) was mentioned as kindly hosting the FIG for the coming semester.
Fall 2018: 3 meetings
25th Sept.
The first FIG of the semester brought together faculty, administrators from the Melissa Riggio Program, Accessibility and Cuny leads- 7 in total.
A new faculty member from the math department attended as did a faculty member from sociology.
An interesting discussion emerged because faculty had students who were using Accessibilty services not in the Melissa Riggio Program. Faculty were asking whether CUNY Unlimited would include students who they were concerned maybe failing as undergraduates.
These concerns were past onto CUNY’s Director of Disability Services.
30th Oct.
The second fig of the semester included a presentation from Sue Carpenter given at the Salzburg Inclusive Universities Conference in Austria.
A UDL tool from the University of Westminster, London was also shared.
3rd Dec.
An update of Cuny Unlimited’s curriculum committee was shared.
Updates were given to Christine Beckner – Dean of Continuing Education.
Discussion and sharing took place between faculty, Cuny Leads, Cuny Leads Plus, Melissa Riggio Admin, faculty and Christine Beckner.
A useful and interesting semester – please feel free to join us!
Spring 2018 – Meeting 3
21st May
A lively discussion was held regarding how best to advertise the Melissa Riggio Program within KCC. We also discussed how best to inform students and develop awareness of the strengths and sometimes limitations of Melissa Riggio students regarding social interaction.
The discussion included faculty, Accessibility admin., staff, and Melissa Riggio admin. In addition, a Melissa Riggio student. It was a very useful discussion.
Faculty Support Resources were also discussed. Please see enclosed.
Spring 2018 – Meeting 2
8th May
The second FIG of the semester was open to mentors and Melissa Riggio students as well as staff and faculty. Student and mentor insights were shared regarding their experience of KCC.
Supported Decision Making and the work of Kirsten Booth Glen of Hunter college was also discussed.
It was decided to invite Kirsten Booth Glen to present to the FIG next semester. The concept of Supported decision making is radical. For more information, please see Supported Decision Making website.
Spring 2018 – Meeting 1
27th March KCTL : conference room
The first FIG brought together faculty, Melissa Riggio admin., and Heather Leykham principal of the District 75 special education school housed in our neighboring Leon Goldstein school.
We were pleased to welcome a new faculty member from the art department.
Updates were given on the status of CUNY Unlimited and a discussion was held on the concept of ‘Mindset’. The work of Carol Dweck was discussed.
