More Info and FAQs
How have institutions and their studentsbenefitedfrom this grant?
Colleges and universities use SWDPS grantdollarsto supplement their existingsupportsand servicesinlots ofways,based ontheir students’ needs and the allowable expenditurecategoriesfor thegrant.Below areanecdotes andtestimonialscollected fromcolleges that were2023-24SWDPSgrant recipients:
AssistiveTECHNOLOGY,tailored spaces, and dedicatedPEOPLE
“A student veteran who uses a wheelchair was able to use[a new]adjustable-heighttable in his classes without asking for assistance. He was extremely grateful and felt seen and recognized for what may be insignificant for others but extremely helpful for him.”
From a student:“I was able to work closely with the Access & Success Advocate who helped me navigate the challenges of time management and academic life as a neurodivergent student…The support system built through this program has made a significant positive impact on my life, and I am incredibly grateful for it."
“We were able to expand our assistive technology lending library by adding two manual wheelchairs, two knee scooters, two C-Pen text-to-speech readers, and ten microphones for classroom audio recording… A student with chronic but previously unaccommodated mobility challenges was able to sign out and use one of the manual wheelchairs. A student with dyslexia has signed out one of the C-Pens and is actively using it on examsandassignments.”
“Students reported appreciating the enhancements made to the testing center to allow for a more distraction-reduced environment. They have been able to complete exams in a fair but useful environment. One studentin particular hasreally enjoyed being able to have countdown clocks available for use.Our office reduced accommodation request wait timesfrom one week to 2-3 days due to the professional development provided, resulting in a more student-centered approach.”
“Many students with disabilities utilize physical exercise and recreational activities as a tool to manage their disability and are excited to now have adaptive P.E. equipment options available.”
“In the past we have struggled to use the funds due to high staff turnover. Now being fully staffed, the funds were very strategically used to benefit students, faculty, and staff and no challenges were identified. In fact, the extra help and guidance the staff from Viva88 gave us made the process even easier.”
TailoredcollegeORIENTATIONprogramming
“The SWDPS funding allowed us to provide a college prep workshop. The workshop covers the differences between high school and college, academic supports available, how Disability Services works, how to make a tutoring/coaching appointment,anadvising overview, a campus tour, interaction with the Student Life office, and an opportunity to connect with students prior to the start of the semester.”
Facultyand staffTRAINING
“We were able to fund [a faculty member’s] participation in the AHEAD virtual conference this summer and she was ‘blown away’ by the amount of information she learned about working with students with disabilities. She appreciated the opportunity to enrich her knowledge base.”
“One of our greatest successes is in the shift in perspectives of influential staff and faculty regarding accommodations and students with disabilities.”
IncreasingAWARENESS,ASSESSMENT, and ACCESSfor students in need
“The greatest success of the SWDPS funding this year has been the implementation of a universal syllabus statement that ensures all students have clear and current information on accessing accommodations. This development represents a significant improvement in our data collection and identification processes.”
“We were able to provide neuropsychological assessments to seven (7) students who could not affordthem… Not only did these students express that the resources they received assisted their academic endeavors, but one student's GPA increased from 3.33 to 4.08 after receiving the assistance he needed.”
“Another success has been using social media and campus resources to strengthen ties with other offices and bring awareness to disability as diversity as we reframe the narrative on disability services.”
How can I learn more?
The team in the Office of Postsecondary Access, Support, and Success will be happy toassist.Email our SWDPS team at swdps@nysed.gov.
