Quinnipiac University sophomore interdisciplinary studies major Adeline “Addie” Colciaghi launched the Quinnipiac Student Disability Union, aimed to provide more accessibility, a welcoming environment and education on disabilities.
After noticing a lack of accessibility options, Colciaghi wanted to create an area to advocate for the necessary changes.
“I walk around campus, and I do feel like it is a very inclusive school, but I definitely see changes that can be made,” Colciaghi said. “We have the accessibility buttons and half of them don’t work and it’s definitely a school not up to state standards.”
Colciaghi also strives to raise awareness of disabilities and welcomes anyone to join the union.
“You do not have to be disabled to join the club, as long as you want to empower disabled people, that is all that we care about,” Colciaghi said. “And it’s not just physical disabilities, we’re also doing intellectual, mental.”
After developing her idea for the union, Colciaghi found an advisor and created her executive board of four other students sharing her passions.
“Just merely being a part of this union’s takeoff has taught me so much and has opened my eyes to what good can be done on campus,” sophomore psychology major and the union’s treasurer, Kayla Carlson, wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “I hope to give everyone else a similar eye-opening experience in how each person deserves to have the same opportunities as others without any additional barriers blocking them from success or from doing things in their day-to-day life.”
Sophomore biology MCB Program student Sara Wessland, founded the union alongside Colciaghi, and now serves as the vice president.
“I hope we are able to work together to navigate QU’s available accessibility resources to ensure that everyone has access to the education and general college experience that they deserve,” Wessland said in an email to The Chronicle. “I also hope we are able to educate the Quinnipiac community on different disabilities and accessibility needs.”
The union held its kick-off meeting Monday night in the Carl Hansen Student Center Piazza and will continue meeting on a bi-weekly schedule.
Each meeting will be centered around a different disability. Members will see a short presentation educating them on the disability, followed by an activity.
“I feel like the only talks about disabilities are really like autism or Down syndrome, and we don’t really know the scope and how big the disability spectrum is,” Colciaghi said. “I think it’s really important to advocate and make, not just awareness, but, you know, advocate for those different types of disabilities.”
Throughout the meetings, the union will have open discussions about the topic of the meeting. Members will share their thoughts and ideas through an anonymous Padlet, a platform used in schools to create a digital discussion board. All responses will be anonymous, ensuring everyone remains comfortable when sharing.
“We have ideas of our own, but it is a club, and we want to hear from you guys,” Colciaghi said. “So that’s what’s important.”
In addition to meetings, the union has several events in the works. Specifically, a self-care night and a movie night, screening a movie about a disability. For example, “Wonder” or “Coda.”
Along with one of the union’s main goals of knocking down common misconceptions, Colciaghi plans to host a myths vs. facts trivia night.
“I hope I make a positive impact by raising awareness about different disabilities that exist within our school’s community and break any stigmas or stereotypes around certain disorders,” sophomore psychology major and the union’s secretary Delilah Papka, wrote in an email to The Chronicle.
Colciaghi looks to partner with other student organizations as well. In particular, Colciaghi hopes to work with Women Empowered where she also holds a position on the e-board.
With the first meeting in the books, Colciaghi is eager for what’s to come in the near future and beyond.
“I made this club because I walk around campus constantly, and I am a person with a physical disability and on just the scope of like, visible physical disabilities, there’s not really many of them, and we haven’t really had that opportunity to really connect with one another,” Colciaghi said. “So I really hope that this can jump start that and start a bigger conversation that needs to be started.”
