Gabe Gates
Gabriel.Gates@frontrange.edu
I am an optimistic and enthusiastic education professional with a visual disability who is committed to transforming, expanding, and improving disability resources in higher education. I coordinate accommodations so that students with disabilities can have equal access to curricular and co-curricular programs at Westminster Campus. My areas of expertise include accommodation eligibility assessments, disability laws and policy, identifying and removing accessibility barriers, principles of universal design, and conducting needs-based evaluations. I enjoy collaborating with other disability resource professionals in building a culture of accessibility and inclusion and I am always advocating for strategic initiatives that will enhance the educational experience for students with disabilities.
Education has surely been a catalyst for my own career advancement and economic mobility. However, my endeavors to earn a leadership in education equity doctorate degree and obtain a career as the coordinator for disability support services weren’t always easy. I encountered many cultural, social, financial, and medical barriers along the way. I know all too well how many disadvantages students with disabilities endure just to attend college, let alone be successful.
Nonetheless, there are equity provisions that could be used to help students with their journey through college and reach their dreams, they just need to be put into practice. I feel really blessed to have come this far in my own education and employment endeavors and I am delighted to have the opportunity to pay it forward. It really warms my heart when students achieve their college goals and go on to change the dynamics of their lives.