Celebrating Disability Advocacy
By Susie Schainost
On October 16, 2023, IMPACTability board members, CareerReady! leaders, instructors, mentors, students, volunteers, supporters, and guest speakers gathered in person and virtually at BNY Mellon to celebrate disability advocacy. IMPACTability is the proud sponsor of College Students with Disabilities Advocacy Month each October. Together we recognized IMPACTability’s network of support for college students with disabilities at the City University of New York (CUNY).
Guest speaker and IMPACTability board member Madison McNally spoke enthusiastically about HEART, BNY Mellon’s Disability Employee Resource Group. Carol Sensale-Aiello also attended and represented HEART’s External Partnerships Pillar. We were grateful and thrilled to be advocating together! Guest speaker Melissa Lomax reflected on her powerful advocacy journey. IMPACTability’s board recognized Elaine Rogers, CareerReady! Program Coordinator, with the 2023 Volunteer Recognition Award.
In conversations throughout this lively event, which included sharing chocolates and writing what advocacy means to us on leaves, we all agreed that the most joyous part of choosing advocacy and volunteering with IMPACTability is seeing talented college students with disabilities achieve, grow in confidence, and succeed. We value staying in contact with program graduates who came to us as promising professionals and have since taken on leadership roles in their chosen careers.
It took a village to make our first annual event a success. Special thanks to our host BNY Mellon and volunteer committee members Prashant Arora, Sabine Charles, Yousef Darwish, Louise Derzansky, Pam Judd, Amanda Kahan, Charnette Lewis, Madison McNally, Camilla Ozada, Elaine Rogers, Marisol Rosero, Scott Schainost, Susie Schainost, and Craig Weitzel.
Together we celebrated advocacy and student growth. IMPACTability is a group of volunteers who are deeply invested in advocating for college students with disabilities. Our combined efforts point to a bright future.
Guest speaker and IMPACTability board member Madison McNally spoke enthusiastically about HEART, BNY Mellon’s Disability Employee Resource Group. Carol Sensale-Aiello also attended and represented HEART’s External Partnerships Pillar. We were grateful and thrilled to be advocating together! Guest speaker Melissa Lomax reflected on her powerful advocacy journey. IMPACTability’s board recognized Elaine Rogers, CareerReady! Program Coordinator, with the 2023 Volunteer Recognition Award.
In conversations throughout this lively event, which included sharing chocolates and writing what advocacy means to us on leaves, we all agreed that the most joyous part of choosing advocacy and volunteering with IMPACTability is seeing talented college students with disabilities achieve, grow in confidence, and succeed. We value staying in contact with program graduates who came to us as promising professionals and have since taken on leadership roles in their chosen careers.
It took a village to make our first annual event a success. Special thanks to our host BNY Mellon and volunteer committee members Prashant Arora, Sabine Charles, Yousef Darwish, Louise Derzansky, Pam Judd, Amanda Kahan, Charnette Lewis, Madison McNally, Camilla Ozada, Elaine Rogers, Marisol Rosero, Scott Schainost, Susie Schainost, and Craig Weitzel.
Together we celebrated advocacy and student growth. IMPACTability is a group of volunteers who are deeply invested in advocating for college students with disabilities. Our combined efforts point to a bright future.
