Students with disabilities excel at Cabrini because of the DRC

By Evan Lynn
December 15, 2019

Olivia Schiffert in the DRC. Photo by Evan Lynn

The Disability Resource Center, DRC, provides accommodations for students with many different types of disabilities. Some common disabilities at Cabrini University are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mobility limitations, visual impairments, hearing issues, learning disabilities, autism or mental health problems.

In order to receive services, students need to qualify for them and have documentation of disability from a professional. The DRC will then offer proper accommodations based on each student’s individuals needs. Some of the accommodations offered are extra testing time, recording lectures on your phone or tape recorder, having a classroom note taker and even adapted text.

Many students at Cabrini take advantage of these services because they make learning a little bit easier and many have even indicated they specifically chose Cabrini over other colleges because there were more resources available to them.

“In high school, I actually didn’t receive as much support as I do now at Cabrini. I did receive some support (in high school),” Olivia Schiffert, senior education major, said. “I did have the option to take tests in a different room. It was just really awkward because it was just me. At Cabrini, I feel like there are so many people who are also involved with this program, so it made me feel more comfortable with being here.”

Students in the DRC receive a document called a VISA (Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations). This document is given to professors usually within the first week of classes each semester and provides the professor with a brief overview of accommodations required for each individual student to be successful in their class.

“I have a VISA, which provides me with certain accommodations such as having my books on my iPad so I don’t have to carry the small print version, extra time on tests,” a junior finance major who asked that their name not be used said . “Using my iPad during tests to enlarge the text to see it and having my iPad out in class.”

Students also, depending upon which plan they sign up for with the DRC, get to meet with one of the four student accessibility specialists for 45 minutes either three times a semester or up to 25 times a semester. These sessions are extremely beneficial for a multitude of reasons including bouncing ideas off someone, helping with organizational skills, homework help or having a liaison between student and professor.

“The DRC supports me by having me for one on one appointments weekly,” anonymous, junior education major, said. “And these appointments really allow me to talk about different assignments or tests that are coming up and how to best schedule them throughout my week.”

The DRC has provides assistance for many students since its conception and will continue to do so for many years to come.

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Evan Lynn

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