THELAKER | 19 NEW TOOLS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS The College is investing in new tools and programming to ensure that students with disabilities have an equitable opportunity to succeed in spite of limitations or other barriers that get in the way of learning. A disability is any condition that substantially limits a major life activity. Low vision and hard-of-hearing are examples, as well as learning disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Even a temporary disability such as a concussion can hold someone back. The number of students reporting a disability has been rising, both in numbers and as a percent of the student population. In 2019, 327 students – or 9 percent of those enrolled in credit-bearing programs – reported a disability. By fall 2023, 412 students, or 12.5 percent, signed up for an accommodation. The increase could be the result of more students feeling comfortable to reach out for help, said Melissa Soules, FLCC disability services coordinator. Or, it may be a growing recognition among potential applicants that community colleges have more experience with accommodations. The figures are likely undercounts. National data suggests a majority of students with disabilities do not report them, she added. The most common accommodations deal with testing, including more time to take a test or the ability to take a test in a reduced distraction location. New this fall, tutoring centers have adjustable tables that can accommodate wheelchairs. They also help students who need to alternate between sitting and standing to manage chronic pain. The tutoring centers have laptops with assistive technology that converts course materials into different formats. For example, those with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may benefit from reading and listening to a text. The same tool is also useful for non-native English speakers seeking to improve pronunciation or understand nuances in language. One program – GLEAN, a notetaking assistance software – uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create a five-question quiz based on a recorded lecture or notes. Students learn right away whether they have grasped the material or need tutoring. For the last three years, a SUNY Enhancing Supports grant has covered costs for Melissa and Lynne Sassenhausen, the executive functioning coach, to teach a College Prep Workshop for incoming students who report disabilities before the start of the fall semester. The class introduces students to the services available and the staff who can help them. DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT A look at the makeup of the 3,279 full- and part-time students enrolled in a credit-bearing course at one of FLCC’s locations or online in fall 2023 First-generation College Student female male unknown 55% 45% 2% Race & Ethnicity Gender Breakdown 41% 24% 20% 14% Age Breakdown under 20 20–24 25–34 over 34 Quiet rooms with assistive technology can help students overcome barriers to learning. 32% 73% 24% 3% White Unknown Students of Color
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