New Club on Campus: DREAM
Jenna Porcaro, who is an advisor for the Arch learning community, has piqued interest in starting a DREAM chapter on Dean’s campus. DREAM is an organization that brings together people with disabilities, and people who support others who are different, to help build a more accessible and inclusive community on college campuses. For this to be an official club on Dean’s campus, people need to join and be interested.
Interested students should join to help neurodivergent classmates and make them feel seen and included on campus and in club activities. Some benefits of joining Dean’s DREAM chapter are: gaining leadership opportunities to add to your resume, receiving a monthly online care package with resources on how to plan accessible events for everyone on campus, and networking opportunities with other staff and students in DREAM chapters from other colleges. Also, you get to attend DREAM conferences at a lower cost and get access to member-only trainings on how to become a better leader.
A DREAM chapter on Dean’s campus is open to people with or without disabilities but needs one E-board member who is in the Arch program. Expectations for the organization are: having meetings once a month, working towards the club’s mission throughout the semester by tabling and having accessible events, and connecting with the club’s advisor Jenna to go over events we are planning.
Not every student thinks the same; some have disabilities that can be seen while other disabilities are not seen as a learning disability. When you join this organization, you will be able to plan and have events on campus that every student will enjoy going to, because some events Dean puts on are too much for someone with a disability.
Some neurodivergent students are sensitive to loud noises and do not like going to crowded events like dances, so with this new club we can have smaller events that they would enjoy attending. Consider joining this club on campus to help a fellow classmate, inspire them to be the best version of themselves, gain leadership and networking opportunities, and plan more inclusive campus events.
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There are some other colleges around Massachusetts which already have their own DREAM chapters, like Bristol Community College, Endicott College, College of Holy Cross, and Merrimack College.
Sedwick L Harris, Ed.D, President of Bristol Community College said, “Bristol Community College works with achieving a DREAM chapter that aligns with their school’s mission helping them make students involvement stronger to help with students long term success.”
The President of Endicott’s DREAM chapter, Julia Bessy noted, “Lots of times students are worried or ashamed of the labeling of ‘disability’ and their goal is to make a community for students with disabilities where they do not need to fear being labeled as disabled or judged. Dream is a safe space for people with disabilities.”
With Dean’s chapter, every student will feel like they belong and are supported by their classmates, friends, and staff members on campus. This isn’t an official club yet until they meet with SALD but would appreciate more members joining.
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