This fall we received 28 nominations for Appreciation Awards! We are glad so many SSD students had great experiences with faculty and staff this semester and took the time to send in their nominations.
Here are some excerpts from students’ nominations:
“I reached out… after the start of the semester to express my concern over my performance… due to my disability. She was more than happy to talk to me and listen to my concerns, not only about my academic performance, but also about my personal life. She is extremely busy all of the time, but she was more than willing to schedule meetings with me just to talk! Knowing that there was someone who cared about how I was doing personally, and not only academically, really means a lot. I believe that she helped me start off the semester on the right foot!”
” To say the very least, he is, by far, my favorite professor and has had a huge impact on my life. As a professor and human being, he is supportive, compassionate, encouraging, and bright. Thus, this year, I shared my story with him and he was extremely understanding. Being able to share my story with a faculty member, and have it not dismissed or invalidated, has enabled me to quietly embrace my disability even more and recognize that I am just as capable as any other person without a disability. He, among others, has taught me that I should not let my disability define who I am or limit what I can do.”
“This has been a difficult semester for me, and she went above and beyond to make accommodations for me to ensure that I would succeed in her class and not fall behind. This was my first semester using SSD accommodations, and in addition to encouraging me academically, she also constantly reminded me that it was ok to use the accommodations I had been given because they are something I needed and not something to be ashamed of. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be in her class and get to know her.”
“When I was having a really difficult time expressing my issues and concerns she lent an empathetic ear and made me feel heard, and that she was genuinely compassionate about my personal struggles. She offered me a safe space in her office anytime I was feeling overwhelmed… I feel like she went above and beyond any expectations I had in terms of support, and I am really grateful for her kind gestures.”
To see the full list of nominees click on the following link: Clock Award List Fall 2014
You can also see the past lists of nominees under the Clock Award section of our website.
Congratulations and thank you to all our our award winners! We appreciate your efforts to make campus a more accessible, inclusive and supportive environment for students with disabilities!