Old Westbury Students Advocate for Disability Awareness, Efforts

SUNY Old Westbury students have made disability advocacy a priority this semester on-campus and beyond.

In February, three Old Westbury students went to Albany to lobby for New York State college students with disabilities. Among the participants, Destiny Williams, one of only three students throughout the SUNY system to serve as a Disability Ambassador, had the opportunity to speak with assembly members and fellow activists about the student with disability college experience.

Students Destiny Williams (left) and Jasmine Roldan at in the Capitol Building for disability advocacy day.

"As president of the DEAL club on campus, I'm dedicated and deeply passionate about advocating for students with disabilities on our campus and beyond," said Williams, a Public Health major. "The highlight of the Albany trip was connecting with peers from different schools who share our identities - we have the collective goal of enhancing the quality of life for others, ensure future students do not face the challenges we have."

To honor Autism Awareness Month, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities hosted or partnered on several events. Of the recent efforts, Director Stacey DeFelice said "I'm proud of the work that OSSD and its students are doing to increase visibility, awareness and access on campus, as we remain committed to providing a supportive and academically challenging environment for all students with disabilities."

In addition to an awareness walk, on April 1, social justice and disability activist Lydia X.Z. Brown did a presentation to more than 100 campus community members that focused on examining disability and ableism as they relate to other forms of oppression and identity such as race, class and gender.

Lydia X.Z. Brown speaking at SUNY Old Westbury

"In the histories of disabled people and our communities, many of us are more likely to be part of other marginalized communities," said Brown. Of their presentation, Brown added: "we will trace through this journey and see why the crisis of ablelism matters to each one of us, and every struggle against injustice and oppression to why disability justice is a necessary part to collective liberation."

Brown is the Director of Public Policy at the National Disability Institute and serves as Vice Chair and Past President of the Disability Rights Bar Association and Disability Justice Committee representation on the National Lawyers Guild board. They were honored by the White House as a "champion of change."

Of her experience as a student at Old Westbury, and an advocate for fellow students, Williams said: "I have felt exceptionally supported at Old Westbury, and have been encouraged to voice my opinions, and boost my confidence in public speaking. As a public health major, I have learned that education and accessibility are integral to public health. After advocating the legislative process more increased funding, we aim to see a rise in graduation rates, and improved support for students with disabilities, ultimately leading to better health outcomes."

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