Children are diagnosed with disabilities at all different ages some earlier in life and some later.
At Cabrini, there are students with all different kinds of disabilities. Some physical and some that you can’t even notice. One thing all these students have in common is a support system. That support system is called the Disability Resource Center, better known as the DRC.
“The DRC offers accommodations and disability services for students who register with the office,” Kathleen Johnson said. Students with disabilities can register at the DRC when they first start at Cabrini. Or they can wait and register later if they feel they need it.
Kathleen Johnson is the director of the DRC. She’s been with Cabrini for eight years now and loves her job. She can be found in room 86 of the DRC center located in Founder’s Hall.
Johnson grew up in Lower Merion and went to St. Joe’s University for her Bachelor’s (BS) in Psychology. Then she went to Johns Hopkins University for her Master (MS) in Special Education.
Prior to working at Cabrini she worked in special education from K-12. She was also an administrator of a lower school.
“Special Education offered me the information and resources needed to teach students who have special needs/disabilities,” Johnson said. She has a special place in her heart for these students and loves to help as much as she can. “My passion has always been working with students who may be atypical learners and need specific support in order to be successful in school,” Johnson said. That passion has helped students all across this campus.
“I also believe that regular education teachers benefit from learning special education in order to better meet the diverse needs of any class of students,” Johnson said. Classrooms are made up of many different types of students.
As Director of the DRC, she is responsible for the administration of this program at Cabrini and for overseeing the current staff. Senior Student Accessibility Specialists Karen Becker and the Student Accessibility Specialist Sara Farina. Along with the Technology Student Accessibility Specialist Amanda Heflin and the two Part-time Accommodations Coordinators one Emilee Timbario.
“I am also responsible for meeting with students and parents to discuss the registration process with the DRC,” Johnson said. She also provides the student’s letter of accommodation (VISA) that they share with their professor. These documents can give the students the extra time they need for texts or quizzes.
Also to develop professional development opportunities for faculty and staff training, regarding the DRC. Which includes sharing the ADA legal rights that Cabrini has and the legal rights of the student with a disability.
She also helped with the “In Our Shoes” disabilities panel held in Cabrini’s Grace Hall on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m. Kathleen Johnson was the moderator for the panel. She helped get it started and helped the students open up about their different disabilities.
When walking through the DRC you will see different things on the walls. Like famous people who also have disabilities.
“This shows the students that even famous people can struggle with the same things as them,” Johnson said.
