This April, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) joins in with the rest of the City University of New York (CUNY) to celebrate CUNY Disability Awareness Month, a University-wide observance that seeks to honor disability culture and recognize CUNY’s longstanding efforts support the disability community.
CUNY SPS is proud to mark this important month with several events and a two-part series showcasing alumni from the School’s pioneering online Disability Studies programs.
CUNY Disability Awareness Month Events
CUNY Neurodiversity Conference - April 17, 2026
Alums Asantee Mitchell and Jacklin Tomlin are among the CUNY SPS community members presenting at the 8th Annual CUNY Neurodiversity Conference. Held on Friday April 17, the virtual day will include a range of workshops exploring the 2026 theme of “Fostering Neurodivergent Joy in Higher Education.” For more information and to register, visit the conference website.
CUNY SPS CIED Workshop: Designing for Access: Inclusive Communication in Practice – April 22, 2026
On Wednesday April 22 from 12:00-1:00 PM, the CUNY SPS Committee on Institutional Equity and Diversity (CIED) will host the online workshop Designing for Access: Inclusive Communication in Practice. The interactive workshop, led by CUNY SPS alum and accessibility professional Asantee A. E. Mitchell, will introduce participants to the ADAPT Inclusive Communication Framework, offering practical strategies for creating more accessible and inclusive content across platforms. Learn more and register here. For questions, email the CIED committee.
CUNY LEADS Career Fair – April 24, 2026
Students CUNY-wide are invited to the CUNY LEADS Career Fair, which was organized with the help of two CUNY LEADS staff at SPS: LEADS Neurodiversity Job Developer/Employer Relations Duane Parnell and LEADS Advisor Kenia Torres. For more information and to sign up, read the CUNY LEADS Career Fair flyer.
CUNY Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Student Success Social – April 30, 2026
Hosted by the Central Office Student Inclusion Initiatives Disability Programs, this in-person community event will be held at CUNY SPS' Manhattan campus from 1-4 pm on Thursday, April 30 and will feature a student panel, speakers, refreshments, and prizes. Register for the DHH Student Success Social here.
Disability Services in Higher Education Alumni Spotlight
In part one of our Disability Studies alumni showcase, contributing writer Tanzina Vega shares the stories of Stephanie Lennon and Shivan Mahabir, who reflect back on their time in the CUNY SPS MS in Disability Services in Higher Ed program and how their degrees have led them to work at other colleges in a disability support capacity.
Stephanie Lennon (pictured left) learned about the MS in Disability Services in Higher Education (MSDSHE) program at CUNY SPS while pursuing her MS Ed Higher Ed Administration at Baruch College. “I found myself wanting to learn more about college students with disabilities, and there weren’t any relevant courses in my program,” Lennon said. So she used one of her electives to take her first class at CUNY SPS. “I had a great experience with this course,” she noted. The MSDSHE “was more closely related to the area of higher ed I was looking to,” she said. It was the right call. Lennon graduated from the program in 2025 and works full time in the field.
One of Lennon’s favorite courses in the program was the course Inclusive Technology in Higher Education, taught by Dr. Brian Le Lay, which offers students hands-on learning opportunities to make class materials and assistive technologies more accessible. One of the most valuable things Lennon gained from the course was to anticipate challenges in implementing technology. “Certain devices may be difficult for students or faculty to learn at first,” she said “Proper training and open communication are crucial for effectively implementing various devices and accommodations.” She’s learned that being flexible and able to adapt to different students' needs is critical for this work. “No two situations are the same when it comes to disability services, and each hurdle we encounter may require a different approach,” Lennon reflected.
In addition to earning her master’s, Lennon works as an exam accommodations manager in the disability services department at Columbia University, where she collaborates with professors to ensure students have the necessary technical support. She and a team of more than 30 others, including case managers and graduate students, support disabled students with testing materials, intake, registration, and even housing. “Our testing team is very busy around the beginning of the semester, midterms, and finals,” said Lennon.
Despite not having had direct experience with disability services in higher education prior to this, Lennon said she landed the role at Columbia because of her coursework at CUNY SPS. “I was able to connect my former experiences with what I was learning in my classes,” said Lennon who accepted the role while in the midst of her last semester capstone. “It was such a relief heading into graduation knowing that I’d accomplished my goal.”
Her current job, while rewarding, isn't without its challenges. Making tests and other course materials accessible to people with disabilities requires enough time to prepare them, Lennon observed. “Last minute requests and missed deadlines can mean late test materials and frustrated students”, said Lennon.
For those considering a career in disability services in education, Lennon suggests learning how to balance the demands of a career against a life outside of work. “Work-life balance is key!” she said. “The work we do is important, but we can’t do our jobs well if we are overworked.”
For Shivan Mahabir (pictured left), a 2020 graduate of the CUNY SPS BA in Disability Studies program and current student in the MSDSHE program, the key for incoming students is “to approach this field with curiosity, empathy, and a genuine interest in supporting access and inclusion.” Today, Mahabir, who is an assistive technology and accommodations coordinator at Princeton University, credits CUNY SPS with having equipped him “with both the theoretical foundation and practical skills” he needed to grow in the field. The program “truly reinforced my commitment to disability services in higher education,” Mahabir said.
Like Lennon, Mahabir attributes being adaptable to changing technologies as part of his success. “Disability services is a rewarding career that allows you to make a meaningful impact in students’ lives, but it also requires flexibility and a willingness to keep learning as students’ needs and technologies evolve,” said Mahabir.
As a father of two, Mahabir said the program’s flexibility for working parents was particularly useful in helping him reach his goals. “SPS made it possible for me to balance my personal, professional, and academic responsibilities without feeling disconnected or unsupported,” he noted.
At Princeton, Mahabir helps research, implement, and support assistive technologies including American Sign Language interpreting and CART speech-to-text transcription services for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. “My work focuses on delivering individualized support that helps students succeed academically and navigate their educational experience with confidence,” Mahabir said. “I regularly apply the assistive technology skills I developed at CUNY SPS in my day-to-day work.”
Those skills were gained through a variety of classes at SPS, Mahabir reflected. Specifically, a class on disability and diversity helped him better understand “how identity, culture, and, systemic inequities shape student experiences,” while classes on the legal aspects of disability services and disability service administration “provided a strong foundation in compliance, policy, and best practices, which have been invaluable in my current role,” said Mahabir. “I use this knowledge to support students in selecting and effectively using tools that improve access to course materials, communication, and learning.”
Mahabir also noted he’s optimistic about the future of disability services in university settings despite having to serve an increasingly diverse population. “Institutions are increasingly embracing accessibility and inclusion,” he said. “Advances in assistive technology and a stronger focus on universal design are helping create more welcoming learning environments.”
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, an Advanced Certificate and MS in Disability Services in Higher Education, and an Advanced Certificate in Disability Advocacy.
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 over 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.
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