1. CUNY Coalition forCUNY Coalition for
Students withStudents with
DisabilitiesDisabilities
Empowering CUNY’s more than 9,000 StudentsEmpowering CUNY’s more than 9,000 Students
with Disabilitieswith Disabilities
By Madeline Schwartz, ChairpersonBy Madeline Schwartz, Chairperson
2. Disabilities CivilDisabilities Civil
Rights…Rights…
Education has been
mandatory for American children
since 1917, but it was not until
after Ed Roberts in the 1960s that
the Disability Rights movement
drew national attention.
When he was paralyzed from
the neck down when he gained
admission to the University of
California at Berkeley.
3. History…History…
In the early 1970s, onlyIn the early 1970s, only 20%20% of children with disabilities wereof children with disabilities were
educated in U.S. schools.educated in U.S. schools.
In 1972, the Federal courts determined the right to a basicIn 1972, the Federal courts determined the right to a basic
educationeducation EqualEqual ProtectionProtection Clause in the 14th AmendmentClause in the 14th Amendment
and demanded that “states to provide disabled children withand demanded that “states to provide disabled children with
an education, and financial assistance to create and maintainan education, and financial assistance to create and maintain
this service within local communities.”this service within local communities.”
In 1973,In 1973, Federal Rehabilitation Act, Section 504Federal Rehabilitation Act, Section 504
established the legislative obligation for all colleges andestablished the legislative obligation for all colleges and
universities receiving Federal dollars to increase physical anduniversities receiving Federal dollars to increase physical and
programmatic access and to provide auxiliary aids andprogrammatic access and to provide auxiliary aids and
prohibit discriminatory procedures.prohibit discriminatory procedures.
4. History…History…
In 1975, Education most beIn 1975, Education most be guarantee freeguarantee free andand
appropriateappropriate public education for children with disabilities.public education for children with disabilities.
In 1992, the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act, atIn 1992, the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act, at
CUNYCUNY each campus for students with disabilities to requesteach campus for students with disabilities to request
reasonable accommodations, and a budget is provided atreasonable accommodations, and a budget is provided at
each campus to provide those accommodations for studentseach campus to provide those accommodations for students
with documented disabilities.with documented disabilities.
5. History…History…
In 1984, Don Passantino enrolled at Queens College in theIn 1984, Don Passantino enrolled at Queens College in the
effort to acquire the skills necessary to change prevailingeffort to acquire the skills necessary to change prevailing
disability policies. While at Queens College, he becamedisability policies. While at Queens College, he became
involved at every level of student government, includinginvolved at every level of student government, including
serving as the Chair of the College’s Committee for Disabledserving as the Chair of the College’s Committee for Disabled
Students, as President of its Evening Student Association,Students, as President of its Evening Student Association,
and as leading member of the College’s Academic Senate. and as leading member of the College’s Academic Senate.
As Vice Chair of CUNY’s University Student Senate, DonAs Vice Chair of CUNY’s University Student Senate, Don
worked tirelessly to enhance access and opportunity for theworked tirelessly to enhance access and opportunity for the
City University’s more than 9,000 students with disabilities…City University’s more than 9,000 students with disabilities…
…The CUNY Coalition for
Students with Disabilities
7. Reestablishing…Reestablishing…
In the summer of 2003, Passantino invited aIn the summer of 2003, Passantino invited a
group of student leaders with disabilities to gathergroup of student leaders with disabilities to gather
together in a leadership training held at Queenstogether in a leadership training held at Queens
College followed by a barbecue to celebrate theCollege followed by a barbecue to celebrate the
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Actanniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). At the event Donald Passantino reorganized(ADA). At the event Donald Passantino reorganized
the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilitiesthe CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities
once again. As a result of that event, the CCSDonce again. As a result of that event, the CCSD
has been working very strongly with a commonhas been working very strongly with a common
purpose, which is to reestablish and renew oldpurpose, which is to reestablish and renew old
friendships with those who are involved infriendships with those who are involved in
advocating for the disabled.advocating for the disabled.
8. Represents a diverse, empoweredRepresents a diverse, empowered
University-wide organization that isUniversity-wide organization that is
actively and dramatically transformingactively and dramatically transforming
the perception and experiences ofthe perception and experiences of
people with disabilities at CUNY.people with disabilities at CUNY.
The CUNY Coalition forThe CUNY Coalition for
Students withStudents with
DisabilitiesDisabilities
9. Structure…Structure…
Our Current Members areOur Current Members are
Students and Alumnus:Students and Alumnus:
BMCCBMCC
QCCQCC
La GuardiaLa Guardia
City CollegeCity College
Baruch CollegeBaruch College
Hunter CollegeHunter College
Queens CollegeQueens College
Staten IslandStaten Island
KingsboroughKingsborough
Community CollegeCommunity College
John JayJohn Jay
The board of directors:
Chairperson
Vice chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Member at Large
11. Logo Contest …Logo Contest …
IndependenceIndependence of CUNY studentsof CUNY students
with disabilitieswith disabilities
LeadershipLeadership by CUNY studentsby CUNY students
with disabilitieswith disabilities
AdvocacyAdvocacy by CUNY students withby CUNY students with
disabilitiesdisabilities
Spirit of communitySpirit of community amongamong
people with disabilities at CUNYpeople with disabilities at CUNY
EqualEqual accessaccess for people withfor people with
disabilities at CUNYdisabilities at CUNY
EqualEqual opportunityopportunity for people withfor people with
disabilities at CUNYdisabilities at CUNY
ExcellencyExcellency of CUNY students withof CUNY students with
disabilitiesdisabilities
Students with disabilities as anStudents with disabilities as an
integralintegral part of CUNYpart of CUNY
Students with disabilitiesStudents with disabilities
contributions to CUNY’scontributions to CUNY’s diversitydiversity
A Logo Design that reflects
the essential spirit and
values of the group:
12. Webpage … Fliers…Webpage … Fliers…
Arts Department
Disabilities Service Offices
Listserv
About Us Photo Gallery
Guidelines Application
Join Us Event
13. Sponsor…Sponsor…
• Disability Awareness MonthDisability Awareness Month
Kick Off ReceptionKick Off Reception
• $1,000.00$1,000.00
• CUNY Coalition Logo DesignCUNY Coalition Logo Design
Competition & ReceptionCompetition & Reception
• $2,300.00$2,300.00
14. Award Presentation…Award Presentation…
April 19, 2005April 19, 2005
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeBorough of Manhattan Community College
Richard Harris TerranceRichard Harris Terrance
Guest Speakers:Guest Speakers:
USS Chair Lauren FasanoUSS Chair Lauren Fasano
Dean Harry FranklinDean Harry Franklin
16. Current Projects…Current Projects…
TheThe ToolTool KitKit isis
another projectanother project
designed by CCSD “todesigned by CCSD “to
ensure there are aensure there are a
student disabilitystudent disability
organization and/ororganization and/or
club on each of theclub on each of the
CUNY collegeCUNY college
campuses.”campuses.”
TheThe TRIOTRIO ProgramProgram;;
by August 2005, moreby August 2005, more
than 2,000 CUNYthan 2,000 CUNY
students in need ofstudents in need of
support services,support services,
including many withincluding many with
disabilities aredisabilities are
schedule to lose theirschedule to lose their
funds in 12 institutionsfunds in 12 institutions
in New York State andin New York State and
nine are CUNYnine are CUNY
colleges.colleges.
17. What can I do to stop
these cuts?
Together, We Can Make a Difference!
1. Log on to www.supportcuny.org
2. Sign up with Support CUNY
3. Click on “To Do”
4. Click on the “Take Action” icon corresponding to the category that best
describes you as a constituent (I.e. “Student-Federal Issues” , “Student with a Disability”,
etc..). Modify the sample letter to write to your U.S. Senators and Representatives
asking them to stop the cuts to CUNY’s Student Support Services (TRIO) Programs!
18. Our Goal…Our Goal…
It is ourIt is our long-term goallong-term goal isis
to implement these plansto implement these plans
and especially to removeand especially to remove
the physical barriers tothe physical barriers to
education and safety, to createeducation and safety, to create
awareness within the community, andawareness within the community, and
to fully establish and be a recognizedto fully establish and be a recognized
organization on each and every CUNYorganization on each and every CUNY
campus.campus.