Disability Awareness Month spotlights need for support

Dhriti Narayan was 13 when she woke up in the hospital, unable to move. She couldn’t speak, and she had no memory of who she or the family members around her were.

After surviving a traumatic accident, she spent months in the hospital, undergoing intensive rehabilitation to regain her mobility and adapt to memory challenges.

Now a freshman business major at Cal State Monterey Bay, Narayan is thriving — walking to class every day, fully engaged in her studies, and embracing college life as she pursues her degree. 

“I wear a brace on my foot,” she said, “but it doesn’t stop me from moving forward."

Narayan appreciates the fact that March, which is designated as Disability Awareness Month, brings some attention to the importance of providing access to those who need additional support.

“Support and accessibility make a real difference,” she said. “It’s not just about awareness — it’s about making sure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential."

Renie Rondon Jackson is an assistant professor in the Social Work department. She has her own disability — her limited eyesight necessitates a larger computer screen – but she also helps disabled students get the resources they need. Many of those services are coordinated by the Student Disability and Accessibility Center. 

Rondon Jackson said Disability Awareness Month plays an important role in “eliminating the stigma so people can come forward to get what they need, rather than being ashamed to ask for it.”

Sometimes, it’s obvious that people need such support. In other cases, such as Rondon Jackson’s, it may not be noticeable. 

“We’re living in an era where more and more students are presenting with a disability – neurodivergence, dyslexia, etc.,” she said. “We want to make sure our students, regardless of what's going on, have accessibility to get what they need.”

That can be everything from an assistive recording device to wheelchair ramps to housing. 

Sofie Jamieson, of San Francisco, is in her first year of the Master of Social Work program. She has cerebral palsy, which limits her mobility and fine motor skills, and uses either a walker or a wheelchair to get around. Getting appropriate housing has been a challenge for her in the past, including apartments with hallways too small for her wheelchair, or shower doors too heavy for her to open. At one point, she was in a second-floor apartment and found herself stranded when the elevator wasn’t working. 

“It’s an ongoing struggle that I’ve endured for a while,” she said, adding that a lot of times that struggle is the result of miscommunication. 

Now she has a ground-floor, two-person dorm room to herself. The second desk has been removed to make space for her wheelchair. Getting around campus, she said, is not normally a problem. 

“The majority of the time, the professors and the departments are very open and willing to accommodate my wheelchair,” she said.  

She is also given extra time on tests when she needs it, she said.

For Narayan, access isn’t just about physical spaces—it’s about having the right tools to excel.

“I’ve found ways to work with my memory challenges,” she said. “Before, I used to forget almost everything, but I’ve made huge progress. I use an app called Glean that records lectures, lets me take pictures, and keeps everything in one place. It’s been a game-changer for me.”

She’s also learned to advocate for herself.

“I speak up in class if I need clarification,” she said. “I’ll ask my professor to explain something differently or check in with my classmates to make sure I understand.”

Beyond the classroom, Narayan makes the most of the resources available to her, including office hours and the Student Disability and Accessibility Center.

“I feel like I am getting the support that I need,” she said.

More importantly, she’s found a strong sense of belonging in the CSUMB community.

“I was nervous at first about making friends, wondering if people would see me differently because of my brace,” she admitted. “But when I brought it up, they just said, ‘We see you for who you are.’”

That acceptance has made all the difference.

“I love how supportive my classmates are,” she said. “Everyone is willing to help each other. This campus feels like home because of that.”