by Elizabeth Carman ‘16
Sophomore Katy Olsen concentrates on exercise science, Central College cheerleading and Campus Ministries. Olsen’s Central story looks a little different from everyone else’s — but then again, whose doesn’t?
“I don’t feel any different than anyone else,” says Olsen, “but when it comes to school, things get a little tougher.”
That’s because Olsen has an eye condition known as Knobloch Syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder that affects her eye’s retina. She is blind in her right eye and has poor vision in her left — but like many Central students with special conditions, that’s never stopped her.
Dietary needs, physical limitations, attention disorders and other special conditions are common among college students, and Central works to create an environment where every student can be successful. In Olsen’s case, that means communicating her needs to professors and engaging with Student Support Services (SSS). According to SSS program coordinator Matt Diehl, it’s all about providing students with support and strategies to succeed at Central.
Olsen is certainly succeeding. With her passion for cheer and tumbling, she coached for Pella Gymnastics last year and will be giving private lessons there this year. She is not only a leader in the gym and on the Central cheerleading team, but she also serves the justice team for Campus Ministries. She spent part of her summer in Haiti with the group, who partnered with Many Hands For Haiti to build houses for locals.
With a little assistance from SSS and her professors, these accomplishments also translate to the classroom.
Olsen says caring professors are one of the reasons for her success. She says, “They’ll email me in their free time and say, ‘Hey, here’s this assignment we’re going to go over in class tomorrow.’ It’s crazy — things I don’t even have to ask them to do. It’s so nice to know that they want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed.”
For Olsen, support often looks like receiving special e-books or course notes before class. But there are many ways Central students are supported. Classmates play an important role, whether that means taking notes in a lecture or simply lending an ear to listen.
For Brenda Mendoza Cervantes, a first-year student interested in biochemistry, meeting with other students is a key part of her success. Mendoza Cervantes is from Mexico, but she has lived in Puerto Rico most of her life. Although she was nervous about attending a college where English is the primary language spoken, her weekly tutoring meetings for a writing studio class and supplemental instruction (SI) sessions for her biology and math courses have helped her feel at home. Her advice for Spanish-speaking prospective students? “Don’t be afraid. Ask questions and get the help – because it’s there.”
Noel Murray ’15 is also no stranger to the help Central offers. The Central graduate is currently studying physical therapy at Des Moines University. Due to her gluten intolerance, she spent a lot of time working with Central Market dieticians and staff to accommodate her dietary needs.
“It’s a very vulnerable situation to be in,” says Murray. “You’re trusting somebody to feed you, but they could easily make you sick for a week just by sprinkling a little flour on a dessert by accident. I was definitely reassured by the precautions they took to help me.”
“Make sure people know that you don’t limit yourself, so they shouldn’t be limiting you.”
When it comes to choosing colleges, Eddie Culp, a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Iowa Department of the Blind, says it’s important to look for a place where individuals feel they can be a part of the community and succeed, as well as receive the services they need.
“It’s important to understand that there are not many differences for people with disabilities when it comes to searching for colleges,” says Culp. “They’re all looking for a place where they can thrive – it’s just finding the one that has access to the services they need.”
For Olsen, Mendoza Cervantes and Murray, Central was that place. “That’s what college has taught me,” says Olsen. “Make sure people know that you don’t limit yourself, so they shouldn’t be limiting you.”