Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress

12/15/2023

Dear everyone,

It is with sadness that we announce the loss of one of our members—Judith Andre—last month. Her family is hosting a viewing on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 9:00 AM at Saints Philip and James Catholic Church (1160 East 213th Street, Bronx, NY 10469, United States). She will always be remembered for the positivity and advocacy she has shown for the SOFEDUP Club, in which she has thanked her faith for bringing us together in both good and bad times. As a form of respect, please join us in remembering the life of Judith Andre and all she has done as a member of the SOFEDUP Club and to the lives she has encountered.

04/05/2022

To close off our showcase of Autism Awareness, the SOFEDUP Club would like to share one more story of one student diagnosed with autism. As we work towards embracing neurodiversity within our student club/organization, steps are being made in the disability community to include neurodiversity as part of the disability and diversity movement, where hidden disabilities and diagnoses are represented fairly as common disabilities and diagnoses.

Christian Velez [Class of 2022]
• Majoring in Childhood Education for Grades 1-6 with a concentration in History
"I joined the SOFEDUP Club at the end of the Spring Semester in 2021 due to a recommendation from Austin Dragos. It was a good way to connect with people that had similar experiences that I did when it came to school, work, and everyday life. Also, seeing what other members of the disability community were struggling because of quarantine helped me cope with the problems in my life. I am thankful that I am a part of this club and hope that we can do more in the future to help and connect with students with disabilities at Brooklyn College.”

04/04/2022

After starting the first weekend of April 2022 with Autism Awareness Day, the SOFEDUP Club would like to share the story of one student diagnosed with autism. As we work towards embracing neurodiversity within our student club/organization, steps are being made in the disability community to include neurodiversity as part of the disability and diversity movement, where hidden disabilities and diagnoses are represented fairly as common disabilities and diagnoses.

Austin Nicholas Dragoș [Class of 2022]
• Majoring in Childhood Education for Grades 1-6 while concentrating on Psychology and minoring in Children & Youth Studies
“My experience with the SOFEDUP Club and as a tertiary education student has been filled with many positives and negatives. From being a part of a social group that represents and empowers people with disabilities and diagnoses to doubting if the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic would negatively affect my preparation for the field I’m pursuing, I can say that my time obtaining my Associate’s Degree served as the building blocks to my identity while my time obtaining my Bachelors Degree put my foundation to the test. With everything that occurred during emergency remote learning due to the closure of universities because of the pandemic, the experiences I endured led to various changes in how I perceive the world and how people perceive me and others, where the lessons that have been bestowed upon us as a blessing should not be forgotten. Two quotes that perfectly fit my changes in perception include one from John Dewey who stated “if we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday‘s, we rob them of tomorrow” and one from James I. Charlton who stated “nothing about us without us”. Although the psychological and emotional trauma of my experience during emergency remote learning still affects me due to disillusionment and disenchantment, it hasn’t stopped me from seeing the list of changes that needs to be considered for a better world for current and future generations.”

04/02/2022

With this year's April Fools' Day now in the past, it is a delight to know that Disability Awareness Month has begun! Although March is known as National Disability Awareness Month based on the declaration of Proclamation 5613 by former-President Ronald Reagan, April is designated for the CUNY community to represent the disability community and their impacts on the public university system. While we—the SOFEDUP Club—wait for The City University of New York to provide information regarding upcoming events pertaining to people with disabilities and diagnoses in tertiary education, it is important to know certain days that bring awareness to certain disabilities and diagnoses that are rarely know.

With the SOFEDUP Club working towards embracing neurodiversity, there are two days for this month that bring neurodiversity into the disability community's spotlight, where hidden disabilities and diagnoses do not get as much attention as other disabilities and diagnoses. With Autism Awareness Day being the first day related to neurodiversity, we look forward to highlighting our autistic community and sharing what they have to say about the SOFEDUP Club and their tertiary education.

P.S.: As part of our efforts and willingness to embrace neurodiversity, with Autism Awareness Day being the first day to highlight neurodiversity, please be mindful of which organization you donate to! That means "No!" to Autism Speaks and "Yes!" to The Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Why? Go tohttps://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/AutismSpeaksFlyer2022.pdf for more information.

03/14/2022

With Disability Awareness Month coming up, there has never been a better time like this week to prepare! The City University of New York's Central Office of Student Affairs' Disability Programs will be hosting this year's Neurodiversity Conference from Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 9:00 AM to Friday, March 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM, where Eric Garcia—the author of "We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation" will be this year's guest speaker. If you wish to attend, you can register by going to https://attendify.co/cuny-neurodiversity-conference-2022-C8OTLfK. With ableism in the spotlight, speakers, self-advocates, and scholars in the field will come together to address the important topic of intersectionality and neurodiversity, where the Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress—alongside Pro-Student CUNY—hope for a better CUNY for neurodiverse students.

03/02/2022

Tomorrow and this coming Friday is Pro-Student CUNY's first set of town-hall-style sessions for the CUNY community. If you wish to attend, view more from the attached post regarding URLs for each scheduled session and—if you cannot attend—access to Padlet to post a question. The Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress looks forward to your presence, and let's make it clear that ableism will not be tolerated in The City University of New York!

Is there something that you want the CUNY administration to be aware about regarding the 70% Policy and its handling of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic? Have you been affected by the 70% Policy in any way(s)? If not, do you feel and/or think The City University of New York should have done a better job for the public university system's community members who have been affected? Pro-Student CUNY will be hosting an online town-hall-style session for students, faculty, and staff to speak out about whatever is on their minds regarding the 70% Policy and CUNY’s handling of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Their first occurrence will be on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and our second occurrence will be on Friday, March 4, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information, go to https://fb.me/e/20HyEsUJA. If you cannot attend, leave a question by going to https://padlet.com/austindragos45/55v2yvavys4r0cq7.

02/19/2022

Is there something that you want the CUNY administration to be aware about regarding the 70% Policy and its handling of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic? Have you been affected by the 70% Policy in any way(s)? If not, do you feel and/or think The City University of New York should have done a better job for the public university system's community members who have been affected? Pro-Student CUNY will be hosting an online town-hall-style session for students, faculty, and staff to speak out about whatever is on their minds regarding the 70% Policy and CUNY’s handling of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Their first occurrence will be on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and our second occurrence will be on Friday, March 4, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information, go to https://fb.me/e/20HyEsUJA. If you cannot attend, leave a question by going to https://padlet.com/austindragos45/55v2yvavys4r0cq7.

02/14/2022

Although we are in the second half of the 2021-2022 academic semester, the upcoming academic semester might end up being different than what we are used to. To ensure everyone is represented, Brooklyn College is seeking students to respond to a survey that will help the campus administration know how the 2022-2023 academic semester should be offered. With the complications and impacts of the 70% policy for the Spring 2022 term still negatively affecting students with disabilities and diagnoses, the voice of the disability community is more important than before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, where online education remains a disability rights issue and ableism will not be tolerated in education. Share your voice in support of a more accessible and flexible tertiary education today!

Hey , we're revising our class schedules based on your preferences for the 2022-23 academic year. Your input can make all the difference. If you haven't already, take the survey below and let us know what works best for YOU.

🔗 bcsurveyservices.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9RFKu7QWAx1zCMm

02/10/2022

With ableism in tertiary education and beyond becoming more prominent than before due to the birth of SARS-CoV-2 and the havoc it has caused, join the SOFEDUP Club with the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities and the University Student Senate to call for financial support for people with disabilities and diagnoses throughout the State of New York. Information about the rally is provided on the image associated with the post, and you can register by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsc-Gqrz8pGddx61Q-jLOvO_mqP1WebAEN.

02/03/2022

If you haven't got the chance to read BC Vanguard's latest publication, the SOFEDUP Club is in the news again! Austin Dragoș—the current President for the 2021-2022 semester—spoke openly during an interview by Gabriela Flores—the Editor-In-Chief of the student newspaper—about CUNY's 70% policy for the Spring 2022 term and how it affects CUNY community members with disabilities and diagnoses, including those not part of the disability community but are still marginalized in one way or another. To learn more about the issue, go to https://vanguard.blog.brooklyn.edu/2022/02/02/cuny-students-and-faculty-back-on-campus-with-new-vax-mandates/.

01/27/2022

Hello everyone. Hopefully, everyone is doing well as the first day of the Spring 2022 term is approaching. Despite what is going on in CUNY and how it has been impacting people with and without disabilities and diagnoses from all walks of life, tonight is the night no one should miss out on.

The Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress Club will be honored at the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities' Awards. To celebrate, click/tap on https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtdumgrTIpE9Z8qEylgcYw1gw__2kAshSu to acquire a digital invitation. The event starts at 6:30 PM on Thursday, January 27, 2022 via Zoom Meetings. Although it is not necessary, we—the SOFEDUP Club administration and the CCSD—recommend attendees to dress appropriately for the occasion despite being online. With that in mind, smart casual attire would be feasible. The reason for it is to make things as close to normal as possible as if it were in person.

To all those who have supported us throughout the best and worst of times, your support is what makes the SOFEDUP Club a renown disabilities-based student club/organization throughout the City University of New York, and we hope you will continue to support us in our latest challenge to save the SOFEDUP Club and the disability community. Thank you, and we look forward to your presence and support.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: CCSD Awards 2022. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

01/27/2022

With The City University of New York going ahead with having 70% of classes conducted in person and 30% of classes conducted online or in a hybrid format for the Spring 2022 term, people with physical disabilities and mobility issues are being put in an inconvenient situation, and immunocompromised members of the CUNY community will now be put at risk. Ableism of any type has no place in tertiary education, and everyone should be entitled to an education regardless of how they choose to pursue it! Will you help the SOFEDUP Club with saving people in the disability community and beyond with regaining the right to be educated online, along with allowing faculty and staff to be accommodated for teaching and working online?

Join us with other CUNY-related disability-based student clubs and organizations by going to https://api.whatsapp.com/message/ZWRVVFW42RAFG1, and we will help you connect with a community of supporters fighting against ableism. If you know anyone who deserves support, share the post with them to ensure they are being heard!

Say “No!” to ableism in education!

01/03/2022

Happy new year everyone! The SOFEDUP Club's current administration hopes everyone is enjoying themselves during the holiday season. With the Spring 2022 term around the corner, the opportunity for new experiences comes along with it. As soon as the SOFEDUP Club acquires more information about how meeting/sessions and events can be hosted, the information will be relayed through all our social media accounts and bulk e-mail messaging system as soon as it becomes available.

In other news, we are aware that the Governor of the State of New York recently announced mandating SARS-CoV-2 booster shots for students who are eligible before attending in-person and hybrid classes for the upcoming term. All that we know so far is that the mandate will be enforced on the third Saturday of January 2022. For students who are now or have been recently considered—including those who will be prior to the beginning of the upcoming term—fully vaccinated if never vaccinated, no information is available yet. Once more information and clarification is sought, an update will be provided once it is available.

Despite starting 2022 in an unexpected and doubtful way, our administration hopes things will become stable. If you have any questions and/or comments regarding the latest announcements, leave a comment on this post or send us a message via Facebook Messenger. A message can also be sent via our website and other social media platforms such as WhatsApp Business and Instagram. Thank you, and we hope to see you soon as we begin welcoming in 2022 into our lives.

12/15/2021

As mentioned previously, we thank all CUNY students with disabilities and diagnoses and our student club president who won the Donald & Mary Ellen Passantino Students with Disabilities Scholarship by the University Student Senate (USS) for their service, and we—the SOFEDUP Club—would like you to witness the event live with us as we congratulate them.

12/15/2021

To all the students with disabilities and diagnoses throughout CUNY—including our current President—who won the Donald & Mary Ellen Passantino Students with Disabilities Scholarship by the University Student Senate, thank you for your service and may the best be with you for your continued academic successes!

10/25/2021

"For those in the Student Organization For Every Disability United For Progress (SOFEDUP), raising awareness about the disability community at Brooklyn College has become their passion. “We want to make non-disabled people from all demographics aware of our struggles and how our struggles impact us, even if our disability or diagnosis is not noticeable on the surface,” Austin Nicholas Dragos, a BC senior, told The Vanguard. "Everyone in the disability community deserves as much recognition as people coming from other marginalized communities,” Dragos added.
“For many organizations, however, COVID-19 has made student outreach an obstacle. “Keeping in touch with our student club members and officers was quite challenging not only because of technological limitations, but because of the negative mental health complications everyone endured,” Dragos from SOFEDUP added."

Web Group. “SAIL Hosts Virtual Diversity Fair.” The Brooklyn College Vanguard, 15 Sept. 2021, vanguard.blog.brooklyn.edu/2021/09/15/sail-hosts-virtual-diversity-fair/.

SAIL Hosts Virtual Diversity Fair September 15, 2021 webgroup Features 0 By Serin Sarsour As the pandemic persists, Brooklyn College held its annual Diversity Fair virtually on Sept. 9. Rather than being on the quad, behind their table stands, BC club presidents and members were stationed in their o...

09/08/2021

Any plans for tomorrow? If the answer is no, come join and support the SOFEDUP Club in the 2021 Virtual Diversity Fair by Brooklyn College's Student Activities, Involvement, & Leadership (SAIL) Center via the Bulldog Connection! Just like this year’s Involvement Fair, the Diversity Fair aims to promote greater understanding and appreciation of our campus’s community. Student clubs and organizations that are cultural and identity-based—along with those that are spiritual and faith-based—will get a chance to be showcased to registered students. To join and support us, register for the event via the Bulldog Connection by going to https://cunybrooklyn.campuslabs.com/engage/event/7293955/. We hope to see you soon!