Raeanne Raccagno
Copy Editor
The Accessibility Resource Center is debuting its first ARC week on campus to increase respect and understanding for navigating education, community and careers with a disability from March 10-14.
ARC was established alongside the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 and has gone through many names at the College, but its mission has remained strong in serving students. The center is known for heightening disability as a component of diversity while having a core of social justice through a joint effort.
“ARC is a part of this institution that is utilized through and through. … But I think sometimes misunderstood, and I don't think that individuals understand the capacity and the complexities that ARC sees on a day-to-day basis,” Tacquice Wiggan Davis, vice president for inclusive excellence, said.
The week will hold panel discussions from students and staff with disabilities, walkthroughs of assistive technologies like Glean and Accommodate, workshops on learning styles and simulations of different disabilities.
Glean is a new artificial intelligence technology that can help those with disabilities in various ways. For those who have trouble writing, Glean can record a lecture and transcribe notes, and it can also give closed captions in real-time to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The assistive technology can be used by anyone, and the staff anticipates a lot of people using the application. Glean can be used on a computer or is available as an app.
Milan Dargan, a sophomore accounting major and student worker for Davis, has been researching, as part of the ARC planning week committee, to help organize the simulations. One demonstration will have students write the alphabet with their non-dominant hand, helping them gain some insight into what daily life is like for those who struggle with writing legibility.
“I value diversity and inclusion,” Dargan said. “The aura of [ARC] and the people, the support, it just ensures that everyone feels supported and lets them know that they matter too.”
Last semester, the Division of Inclusive Excellence put together the Social Action Summit where Kartika Kumari, a learning support specialist, gave a presentation on neurodivergence. The presentation was for students and staff, teaching about how to better support students and what neurodivergent students may experience in the classroom.
Currently, ARC supports around 1,500 students, but Davis said it’s a “growing population.”
Megan Guiry, director of accessibility resources, said ARC has been receiving incredible feedback from students asking for recommendations on how to make their organizations more accessible for everyone.
Guiry also recommends that recognized student organizations make sure their off-campus events are accessible and said they have campus partners that can help with doing so. If RSOs are having on-campus occasions, they can fill out a form on the ARC website to request an American Sign Language translator.
“One of the biggest things that we've been focusing on as a team just in general is getting our faces out there and making sure that departments, students [and] offices know who to reach out to if there ever is a need,” Guiry said.
Five full-time staff members were added to the ARC assembly after staffing shortages in 2023-2024. While young in their roles, the staff has formed a bond through the collaborative work of embracing all students on campus.
“I think I'm the newest hire, and it's just been incredible,” Kumari said. “It's getting to learn so many new things, but also really learning from each other and supporting each other.”
The biggest hope the staff has for ARC week is to help bring light to their mission and increase the level of understanding and respect around the College.
