A select group of 10 students registered with Cabrini’s Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) are pursuing their education goals thanks to a grant from the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation. A total of 25 Cabrini students have received scholarship funding from the foundation since the 2020‒21 academic year.
Any undergraduate student with at least 24 credits earned, who has demonstrated financial need, academic merit, and also qualifies for accessibility services through the ARC is eligible to become a Newcombe Scholar.
“This grant is a great benefit to the students registered with our office,” said Christy Leigh, Assistant Director, ARC. “We are working toward building a welcoming environment, including people from diverse backgrounds: neurodiverse students and those with learning disabilities. We definitely like to help our students the best we can, and it’s fabulous we can afford them this opportunity to use this grant here at Cabrini.”
Several Newcombe Scholars, who are studying a wide variety of subjects between the University’s School of Business, Education, and Professional Studies and School of Arts and Sciences, said the grant program’s financial and developmental support has been invaluable.
“Being a Newcombe Scholar has helped to raise my confidence in my ability to overcome the feeling of stress,” said a sophomore student studying Computer and Information Science, who aspires to create computer programs for teenagers with learning disabilities. “This scholarship helps me to see the benefit of continuing my education when things get hard.”
The students can direct the scholarship funds toward tuition and other education-related expenses, such as textbooks and individualized ARC services through the Access Plus Program. While testing accommodations such as dedicated testing rooms and flexible exam scheduling are available to all ARC students, those enrolled in the Access Plus Program benefit from regular, individualized services from ARC staff.
The Center also provides students with various housing accommodations and has worked with students to bring their registered emotional support animals to campus.
Students should not hesitate to contact the ARC if they feel they need the support, Leigh said.
“We all learn differently,” she said. “We want students to understand it’s OK if you have an accommodation.”
Indeed, Leigh said she has noticed that “more and more students are coming forward” as stigmas around mental health fade.
One Newcombe Scholar studying Psychology said the scholarship supports her goal to help others as she was helped along her path.
“I spent much of my time in the hospital when I was younger,” she said. “I want to be able to give back to the same people who helped me. I also want to show other kids with disabilities that no matter the obstacle, you can achieve anything.”