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Posted: 6/15/06

TAMIU Coordinator Receives Grant for Work with Students with Disabilities

 

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For her work with Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students with disabilities, The Texas A&M University System Disability Training Network awarded Ruby Smith González, disability service coordinator, with a $1,000 grant.

“Students need families if they are to be successful in their academic goals. The strategy is not only to work with the students, but also include the family in the process. Many students have been successful in their public school education because families were a strong part of their schooling. University life should not be any different,” González explained.

“For Hispanic students, families play an important role, and we are glad that parents, siblings and other significant people can walk into our office and feel comfortable,” added González.

“How she [González] involves the families of many of our students with disabilities by drawing on Mexican cultural constructs such as familismo and personalismo effectively creates and maintains working and healthy relationships between the University and the surrounding community. This is highly relevant and of great interest to the entire TAMU System disability training network,” said Dr. Jesus Aros, director, Office of Student Counseling Services.

“They will distribute this culturally consonant approach throughout the System and it will be discussed in a forum at a  System-wide disability services conference in July,” Dr. Aros added.

The TAMU Disability Training Network is a coalition of System stakeholders that seeks to support progressive and effective education and services for disabled services throughout 11 campuses.

The TAMIU Office of Student Counseling Services promotes a supportive learning community to empower students with disabilities to accomplish their academic goals and foster awareness for people with disabilities. They serve as advocates for students on campus by acting as liaisons for students with special needs to TAMIU faculty, staff and administration and provide them with training to communicate and work positively with students with disabilities.

For more information, please contact González at 326.2763 or rgonzalez@tamiu.edu. You may also contact Dr. Aros at 326.2232, e-mail jaros@tamiu.edu or visit offices in Student Center, room 124.

University office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu