College Life

The Office of Student Development and Counseling help students with disabilities to carry out the requirements of their educational objectives with various combinations of assistance. The office addresses itself to overcoming barriers caused by problems and/or difficulties of physical, sensory, emotional, and learning arenas. We are also concerned with the heightening of college and community awareness of various disabilities. Support is available through the Office of Student Development and Counseling to help provide basic services to meet individual student’s needs. Services are requested on a purely voluntary basis with certain limitations placed on the nature of services available. Documentation on the nature of the disability is necessary if a student is to receive accommodations.

Accommodations might include test-taking arrangements, specialized equipment, liaison with faculty, and liaison with community agencies. Academic, personal, and vocational counseling consists of the set of core services provided. Our strategy also involves helping the student to understand the nature of their disability through the use of individual counseling, group discussion, videotapes, and other accessible resources.

Learning to use tutoring, accommodations, advocacy, and other aids, along with a better understanding of interpersonal relationships and how to work with instructors is emphasized. A student with a “disability” is defined as any student who has or is regarded as having any mental and/or physical condition that substantially impairs or restricts one or more major life activities such as performing normal tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, and learning. This includes, but is not limited to, such disabling conditions as visual impairment, psychological/ emotional disabilities, speech and/or hearing impairment, mobility impairment, or specific learning disabilities. This definition also covers, for example, students who are asthmatic, recovering alcoholics and drug abusers, cancer patients, and people with AIDS and the HIV virus. The college attempts to maintain a barrier free environment, easily accessible to the physically disabled and to others. This pertains not only to our own student body, but also to the general population that takes advantage of the educational, cultural, and social events hosted at the college. It is estimated that well over 10% of the general population are disabled. Students with disabilities are encouraged to continue to identify themselves to us.

Our programs and services will continue to expand to address the needs of this growing special population. We have already had significant increases in the past several years in the number of students with disabilities served. A concern is also maintained with ensuring a smooth transition of the student to the college from high school or other settings, as well as from the post-secondary program to a host of other institutions and agencies with different agendas and eligibility requirements. Information on our services is available at the Office of Student Development and Counseling NJ Higher Education Disability Support Directory

Contact Information Students with disabilities may contact Ms. Maria Mercado, Coordinator of Disability Services to self-identify and discuss their needs. Some services provided include:

  • Accommodation letters
  • Distribution of assistive technology and other resources
  • Academic Advisement
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Referral to outside agencies

You may reach the Office of Student Development and Counseling (SDC) in Room 4122 or by calling (973) 877-3350 We are available Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. A. Zachary Yamba Building; Room 4122A 303 University Ave. Newark, NJ 07102