MCC’s Student Access and Support Services is Dedicated to Students

As part of the college’s dedication to providing equitable and accessible educational experiences for all students, Middlesex Community College offers employees professional development and networking opportunities. Jaimie March, MCC’s Director of Student Access and Support Services (SASS), attended the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Conference – Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education in Baltimore.

“Conference attendance ensures that we can best serve our students by learning about policies, practices, and tools in the field, allowing for collaboration across many different colleges from around the country, and some international. As a professional, attendance at a conference of like-minded people is invigorating! It is the best way to know what is going on in the field and to hear and interact with experts in many different areas that directly impact how we support students and the college.”

During the conference, March participated in sessions on Legal Year in Review, Reducing Student Barriers Under the Social Model; Trauma-informed Practices for Disability Service Office; Symplicty Accommodate, the accommodation requests system; Optical Character Recognition (OCR); notetaking; flexibility accommodations; supporting disability and inclusion; barriers to access and equity in higher education; and staying true to our why.

By attending the AHEAD conference, March honed her knowledge and skills to provide Middlesex students and employees with the most up-to-date resources and information related to equity and access.

“The conference – including Drag BINGO – was an opportunity to celebrate disability and connect about what students are doing on campuses across the country to raise their voices and be fully present as their whole self,” March said. “I'm excited to come back to MCC and continue to partner with everyone at the college on all that is being done and needs to be done to continue to truly see our community.”

The 47th annual AHEAD Conference took place from Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19 in the middle of Disability Pride Month. The recognition celebrates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. In acknowledging the month, MCC emphasizes the college’s commitment to access and inclusion for all, including through offerings by the SASS office.

“The best thing about Disability Pride is the celebration of disability as an identity,” March said. “Often disability is viewed from the deficit lens, which often dismisses or overlooks all the strengths, innovations, uniqueness and tenacity people bring. Disability Pride month celebrates disability as a valuable form of diversity.”

MCC’s Office of SASS helps students with documented disabilities go through the process to receive appropriate accommodations they have a legal and civil right to access, according to March. Through check-ins and one-on-one meetings, the team develops students’ self-advocacy, time management and organization skills. They also review syllabi and course expectations, assist in selecting classes based on learning need and schedule balance, and connect students with internal and external resources.

“We are a resource to students, faculty and staff, available to problem-solve, answer questions, provide information, and more,” March said. “The SASS team is ready to hear from the MCC community with any questions or comments.”

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/disabilityservices/ for more information.