Commemorating Disability Employment Awareness Month 2024

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is proud to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October with several events from the School’s disability community.

Student Group Hosts Events and Welcomes New Chair

The student-run CUNY SPS Disability Access and Coalition (DAC) is pleased to host several community-building events and introduce its 2024-2025 chair.

On October 17, the DAC will host its annual meeting, which will feature a guest speaker from the NYC League of Women’s Voters who will discuss voting accommodations and support for people with disabilities. Alongside this, DAC members will also be invited to share their own experiences in the workforce.

Other events planned this month include a Coffee Shop Convo meet-up on October 22, as well as a Virtual Halloween Party on October 28, which the DAC is co-hosting with the Psychology Club and Creative Writing Club. On November 1, the group will also host a screening of the documentary Tell Them You Love Me with disability studies professor Dr. Devva Kasnitz. More details on these events can be found on the DAC Instagram account.

These events mark the first offered under new DAC Chair Ilianabeth Lopez, a BA in Disability Studies student, who has replaced former Chair Kaci Conley.

Lopez is the latest student to take a leadership role in the DAC, which, since its founding in 2018, has been an active and dedicated advocacy group for students with disabilities at CUNY SPS.

Like many other students here, Lopez came to CUNY SPS seeking to complete her undergraduate education after years in the workforce. An AA in Liberal Arts graduate from Dominican College, Lopez had been working with adults with disabilities for years when she began looking for a good bachelor’s program.

“I returned to school after twenty years or so, [and] after much research and deliberation I realized I need to further my education to reach my goal of continuing to work with adults with disabilities at the post-secondary level,” she explained. “[Following this degree], I plan on getting my certificate in higher education and perhaps my masters in working with blind and visually impaired.”

CUNY SPS became the obvious choice for Lopez, after getting a direct recommendation from a MA in Disability Studies student. “She spoke highly of the program, so I took it upon myself to see if they offered a BA [option],” Lopez said. “It just seemed like the right fit for me.”

Now in her second year, Lopez reflected upon her own learning curve after returning to school. “Last year was my first year at CUNY SPS. It was definitely a learning experience for me," she said. "As someone who is legally blind, I had to rely on using screen readers and assistive technology again to help with my coursework…I'm no stranger to advocating for myself but had to relearn how to ask for accommodations from professors.”

Another positive experience for Lopez was joining the DAC, which connected her to the School’s community of disability advocates and inspired her to become a leader. She observed, “I found myself surrounded by like-minded people within the DAC, I think part of the college experience is finding your people. They listened and advised me through my first year at CUNY SPS. Kaci Conley and a few others suggested I run for office when she announced she was stepping down, since graduation is around the corner. I was also active with CUNY Coalition of Students with Disabilities (CCSD), and have attend[ed] a few events over the summer and this fall.”

As she settles in to the Chair position, Lopez is already making plans for future DAC events and offerings. “I look forward to continuing with the foundations provided by Kaci Conley and [prior Chair] Leonard Blades,” she noted. Some programming in the works include bringing back hybrid meetings, the club’s Passion Sharing event, as well as alumni talks and a DAC podcast.

To connect with Lopez and the DAC, visit the group's website and Instagram pages.   

Additional CUNY-Wide NDEAM Events

In a final NDEAM-related celebration, members of the CUNY SPS disability community will be participating in the 7th Annual NYC Disability Pride Parade, which will be held on Sunday, October 20th, 2024.

The University-wide organization CCSD (CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities), of which Lopez and many other students and alum are members, will be hosting their own contingent at the parade. The group will be meeting at Baruch College that morning. All members of the CUNY SPS community are invited to join them. Learn more and RSVP here.

About the CUNY SPS Disability Studies Programs

Disability Studies is an emerging academic field that explores disability from multiple perspectives, including the social sciences, humanities, science, and the law. The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers groundbreaking, fully accredited programs within Disability Studies. The School’s offerings include a BA, Advanced Certificate, and MA in Disability Studies, and an Advanced Certificate and MS in Disability Services in Higher Education.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

Press Contact
Prerna Dar
CUNY SPS Chief Marketing Officer
Prerna.dar@cuny.edu