The United Nations declared December 3 the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities." Today we meet an Onondaga Community College student whose amazing will to succeed makes her one of the most remarkable and unique success stories on campus.
Faith Austin will not let Cerebral Palsy or any doubters get in her way. She's determined to achieve at the highest level. She's a Communication Studies major, a member of the Lillian Slutzker Honors College, and she's earned membership in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. "Being in PTK means everything to me. Because of the environment I was raised in I never thought I'd be able to go to college. People were filling my head with negative thoughts. I'm proving people wrong and I'm proving myself right."
Austin graduated from Baldwinsville High School five years ago, and began taking classes on the OCC campus in the spring of 2023. "At first I was hesitant because of things I have been through and continue to go through as far as accessibility, physical needs, emotional needs, and my mental wellbeing. Because of the people I have in my life now, I'm grateful I came here."
OCC's Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) has played a significant role in her success. OAR serves students with a wide range of disabilities, including but not limited to vision or hearing impairment, acquired brain injuries, and autism. "They have helped me with anything I need as far as notetaking, transcribing notes, and test-taking. They are accommodating for anything I may need. They are great at listening too."
The staff in the OAR office is equally appreciative of Austin, and grateful for the opportunity to work with her and see her progress. "I think Faith is so smart and just amazing. Faith and students like her are why we come here every day," said Lori Doyle, who assists her with test taking. "She's come a long way. She's amazing. You see what that support means to a student and what they are capable of," added Nancy Carr, OAR Director.
Austin is also making a name for herself as a member of the CNY United Power Soccer team. During a weekend tournament last month, she scored 4 goals as her team won 4 games, lost one, and tied one. "I'm proud of what I'm doing. I hope everyone understands that just because someone has a physical, mental, or emotional disability, you should never doubt them."
