Disability Services, Here to Help

Jesus Duran Reyes, staff writer

Disability Services counselor Susan Hannifan  can be found in room M125 in PVCC’s main building, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday.

She also offers services through email any day of the week. Those seeking aid will have to provide documentation of either psychological, educational, or medical evaluations to be eligible.

Disability services focuses on providing help depending on the student’s situation. One service is assistive technology, in which laptops are given with certain programs to assist the student. One of the programs is Jaws, a screen reader for those with vision difficulty or loss. Another form of help is sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired.

Accommodations are a major part of this service as well, to make sure every student has peace of mind and the tools to succeed. Hannifan also meets with students to improve time management strategies, study skills, or who just want to talk.

“I love being able to see these wonderful people overcome their barriers and achieve their goals and more when you know them personally,” she said.

She encourages students to seek help in advance so arrangements can be made properly. Reading, learning, writing, walking, seeing, hearing or speaking difficulties are all handled with the best aid that can be provided. Hannifan became a counselor because “you spend most of your days working, so if you’re not happy working, why do it?”

In her Sociology class during her junior year of college in Rhode Island, she found herself surrounded by personal stories of orphans while volunteering for community service at a local foster home. This moment changed her perspective on what she loved most and that was to help people.

Disability Services is one of the many support features at PVCC.