WHEREAS, Approximately 20.5% of undergraduate students nationwide report having a disability, yet only 4.6% of California Community College students were served by Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) during the 2022–23 academic year, highlighting a need for improved identification and support mechanisms;
WHEREAS, Students with disabilities face unique academic and social challenges that require more specialized support to fully access campus resources and opportunities;
WHEREAS, Creating a Disability Learning Community, similar to Puente or Umoja, would provide an inclusive network for students with disabilities, fostering empowerment, improved resources, and a sense of belonging; and
WHEREAS, Such initiatives align with California Community Colleges’ equity and inclusion goals, ensuring that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed; Now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the creation of a Disability Learning Community to provide academic support, community building, and advocacy resources for students with disabilities;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to allocate funding and staffing to establish and sustain the Disability Learning Community;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges collaborate with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) to identify needs and establish best practices for the Disability Learning Community; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the RP Group and CAPED to develop improved methods for accurately collecting data on the number of disabled students in California Community Colleges.
Sources:
[1] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. "Students with Disabilities." Fast Facts, 2020, https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=60. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.
[2] California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) Data: Annual Unduplicated Count, 2022–2023. California Community Colleges Data Mart, https://datamart.cccco.edu. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.
[3] Kuriakose, A., and Amaresha, A.C. “Experiences of Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education: A Scoping Review.” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, vol. 46, no. 3, 2024, pp. 196-207. doi:10.1177/02537176231200912.