ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«

Welcome to the first ever Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) update! I am thrilled you are reading and considering joining us in building a community of alumni with disabilities, allies and advocates.

My name is Christen Szymanski and I am the current director of SSD. I joined ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« in 2022 from the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Over the last three years I have not only learned how to appreciate driving in the snow, prepared for every season to occur on every day (umbrellas people!) and taken walks at lunch in the Nature Preserve, but also have been amazed daily by the commitment of ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« to push the inclusion envelope and provide access to students with disabilities in every avenue of the campus. As a person with a disability, who relies on a sign-language interpreter, I have never felt more welcomed or encouraged by administration, my colleagues and the students that we serve. Over the last three years, big things have happened on campus to continue to provide what I believe is the most welcoming and accessible State University of New York (SUNY) campus.

Last year, ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« secured extra SUNY funding to foster greater access and success for students with disabilities. The funds helped to expand not only the SSD office staff, but also to fund two external positions on campus. We’ve added one position in Information Technology Systems (ITS), which will help lead the new ADA Title II Electronic Accessibility Standards (which go into effect in spring 2026), provide consultation to staff and faculty, and lead workshops on electronic accessibility. We added another in Facilities Management to be a proactive voice for physical accessibility in all stages of planning and campus development.

Additionally, we secured funding to upgrade and update height adjustable desks across campus. Currently, approximately 85% of every lab, classroom, lecture hall and common area has a height adjustable desk for students who may need greater access due to wheelchair or other mobility devices. During the 2026 fiscal year, we anticipate 100% of campus will have new state-of-the-art desks. Additional SUNY monies have supported purchasing new Braille equipment, audio recorders, new adaptive equipment for our pharmacy and nursing students and also provided new technology to support students with note taking. Funds also allowed us to re-establish a Summer Transition Program for students with disabilities. This program brought students and families together to learn about ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« and the nuances of self-advocacy after high school.

In the last several years, we have come to appreciate and look forward to collaborating with our campus partners. In 2024, SSD, the Student Association and Facilities Management partnered to place QR codes on all external doors that have handicap buttons (blue actuators). This has led to rapid response in addressing when ADA doors may not be working. Currently we believe we are the only SUNY with this proactive solution. This year SSD is also engaging in a year-long partnership with the Fleishman Career Center to re-examine the best practices in training career staff and to provide a transition program to students as they prepare to enter the workplace.

As we reflect on the last 50 years of SSD at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«, we are reminded of how far students with disabilities, their allies and their advocates have come. We are encouraged by their steadfast dedication to raising disability awareness and hope to continue in reframing the disability narrative on campus and beyond.

Warm regards,

Christen Szymanski
Director of Services for Students with Disabilities