Mission
The CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to increase awareness, opportunity and foster community amongst CUNY’ s more than 9,000 students with disabilities.
Vision
The CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities will chart the future path for the disability community to become the equal partner of public higher education and government in developing responsible leaders, caring citizens, and a healthy, diverse and inclusive society.
History
CCSD was founded in 1989 by three students with disabilities who, without the academic preparation by The City University of New York and a network of supportive peers, would not have been able to successfully acquire a college degree and pursue meaningful careers. The founders of CCSD had one goal: to develop an organization that would focus on assisting students with disabilities achieve their educational and professional aspirations.
Guiding Principles
• Students with disabilities are not inferior to students without disabilities
• Every student, regardless of disability, social status, financial status, ethnicity, gender or age has the right to acquire a college degree and pursue meaningful careers
• It is essential to complement education with career development resources, so that students excel both academically and professionally
• Students with disabilities should receive career development resources that are equivalent to those that are provided to their peers without disabilities
• Students should receive academic resources that are equivalent to those that are provided to their peers without disabilities