Student with Disabilities Commission

Apply Now!

Mission Statement:

The Rice Student Association Students With Disabilities Commission aims to provide support and resources to Rice University’s disabled student population with the aim of identifying areas of improvement within Rice’s disability system and promoting self-advocacy within our student population. We collaborate with the Disability Resource Center and other related offices and organizations across campus to advocate for the students with disabilities population at Rice and address the stigma surrounding disabilities. 

Goals: 

  • To empower students with disabilities with resources and equitable access

  • To educate the Rice community on disability rights and justice

  • To facilitate the development of a welcoming, inclusive, and informed disabled community at Rice

Proposed Initiatives:

We focus on two main projects, with smaller projects that are developed based on members’ interests:

  • A disability ombuds project, in which Rice students can guide their peers, especially new students, through the accommodation process via the Disability Resource Center (DRC). This is currently in its pilot stage at Will Rice College.

  • A disability awareness week, in which the commission collaborates with non-profit organizations and other student organizations to raise awareness on various disabilities and conditions, in addition to how best to support students who have these conditions. This is still in the planning stage.

Smaller projects that are still being planned include:

  • Advocating for a centralized test center on campus

  • Implementing changes on Rice websites to accommodate the needs of all students

  • Potentially improving the DRC and its services as a whole

  • Streamlining the accommodation process for students

Commissions:

  • Access & Rights: This commission focuses on initiatives to protect the rights of disabled students. The chair of this commission shall plan efforts to make accommodations, both formal and informal, easier to access and fair.

  • Advocacy & Awareness: This commission focuses on educating the Rice community about disabilities to promote empathy. The chair of this commission shall plan efforts to platform disabled voices in an engaging way.

Commission Board

Co-Chair

Saran Tugsjargal

Hi everyone! My name is Saran Tugsjargal, and I’m a second-year student studying Global Affairs, Political Science, and Social Policy Analysis. I’m so excited to serve as a Co-Chair of the Rice Student Association’s Students with Disabilities Commission! I have an extensive background in advancing education, employment, and healthcare policies that impact people with disabilities at the state and national levels. I’m so excited to bring those experiences to Rice and work closely with students, RSA, and administrators to make our campus more inclusive and accessible for everyone this year. If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Email: st162@rice.edu

Co-Chair

Madeline Pinches

Hi y'all! My name is Madeline Pinches, and I am Co-Vice Chair for the RSA Students with Disabilities Commission. I’m a junior at Wiess majoring in neuroscience, and I’m originally from Los Angeles, California. I joined the RSA because I want to make Rice a more accessible and welcoming place for students with disabilities. This year, I hope to bring more attention to accessibility issues on campus and help connect students with useful resources. Please reach out to me!

Email: mp157@rice.edu