Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
News Editor
February at Holy Cross marks the midpoint of the year, becoming a month centered on accessibility, advocacy, and community engagement. Through a series of events hosted by the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and DREAM (Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentoring), students are encouraged to access resources and also rethink how disability support and academic success are understood on campus. From conversations with nationally recognized activists to housing accommodations, support groups, academic workshops, and even inclusive career fairs, the college reflects its commitment to building an inclusive campus environment for all students.
On Feb. 11, 2026, students gathered in the Rehm Library for a conversation with award-winning author and disability rights activist Jonathan Mooney hosted by DREAM in a partnership with SAS. During the conversation, Mooney, a graduate of Brown University, challenged audience members to reconsider what it means to learn, succeed, and even belong in academic spaces. Drawing from his own personal experiences navigating the academic world as a child, he emphasized the need to “change the environment, and not the person,” as creating a more inclusive campus environment involves changing perspectives. He explained that to augment inclusivity on campus, the community must: “redefine who or what we call the problem,” “shift the onus of change to yourself,” and “challenge the deficit model,” to understand what the community can do better for those who live differently by “fighting for every single human.” His remarks left students with a challenge to actively participate in changing the campus community for the better, and understanding that difference can be a strength rather than an obstacle.
Furthermore, at Holy Cross, students have the opportunity to request disability housing accommodation. Students must submit the request for the 2026-2027 academic year by Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, through the platform Accommodate, as well as request a meeting with Student Accessibility Services. In a message to the student body, SAS explained that “if you have previously been approved for housing accommodations and your situation has changed, you plan to study abroad, or you do not plan to live on campus next year, please notify a member of the SAS team that you do not plan to renew your accommodation,” emphasizing the importance of meeting personal needs. By encouraging students to proactively advocate for themselves, SAS ensures that living accommodations on campus support students, physical and mental health.
Beyond the formal accommodations, SAS as well as campus partners is hosting three events designed to support students’ sense of self-advocacy: Support for Students Living with Chronic Illness, Self-Advocacy for Success, and the Work Without Limits Fair.
Hosted by the Office of the College Chaplains, the Support Group for Students Living with Chronic Illness will provide students the opportunity for “students living with chronic illness to meet one another” allowing all to reflect and connect. The program will be held at Campion House on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. starting Feb. 10, 2026.
Additionally, the workshop Self-Advocacy for Success, hosted by the Office of Academic Services & Learning Resources (ASLR), and the Center for Writing, will allow students to “learn strategies towards assembling a self-advocacy tool kit.” Held on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 4:00 to 5:00, students can learn effective conversational skills for office hours, write effective emails, and understand the accessibility services here on campus; registration is open on MyHC.
Finally, the Work Without Limits Fair will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1:30 to 3:30 through Zoom. The event will “support individuals with disabilities and inclusive employers,” connecting students with companies committed to accessible workplace environments. Advanced registration is required to participate in the event, and is available through: https://www.workwithoutlimits.org as well as through the link in the SAS newsletter.
From the conversations, the housing accommodations, the workshops, and the peer connections, February’s SAS programming provides students with multiple opportunities to obtain guidance as well as additional information on accessibility and inclusivity at Holy Cross. For more information on SAS, campus community members can visit the office’s website and learn more about the services offered for students. Together, these initiatives demonstrate the College’s commitment to providing academic, as well as professional support to all students with diverse backgrounds and needs.
Featured image courtesy of Ability Magazine
Copy edited by Molly Croft ‘29
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