InclusiveU Students Advocate in Albany on Student Empowerment Day
InclusiveU faculty, staff and students journeyed to Albany, New York, on Feb. 8 to advocate with other colleges and universities from across New York state as part of a “Student Empowerment Day” urging increased state funding for higher education disability services.
In partnership with the University’s , and , —part of the —brought more than 40 representatives to this full-day event. The team visited the Senate Chamber as guests of Sen. Rachel May (D-48).
“The trip to Albany was monumental on several levels,” says , Lawrence B. Taishoff Assistant Professor of Inclusive Education, Taishoff Center executive director and head of the . “Not only was it an opportunity to join with colleges and universities from across the state to advocate for much needed funds for disability in higher education, it also gave our students a chance to make the connection between what we do at Syracuse and how this all fits into a larger structure and goal.”
Lawmakers, led by Assemblymember Harvey Epstein (D-74) and Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-26), introduced a resolution memorializing Feb. 8 as Students with Disabilities Advocacy Day in the State of New York.
Among the budget priorities the students advocated for are $13 million in state funding for , supporting access and inclusion of all New Yorkers with disabilities in higher education and , expanding financial aid options for college students with intellectual disabilities and making aid sources—such as the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)—accessible for these students.
