October 29, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

Social Work Major Paige Clenaghan ’29 lives with constant migraines and dyslexia.

Music Major Kyle Desuza ’28 has autism.

Social Work Major Maya Lohrmann ’29 has cystic fibrosis.

And Music Major Christian Pettinelli ’29 has a central auditory processing disorder.

The thriving college students are just four of the more than 700 Ramapo College of New Jersey students who are associated with the College’s Office of Specialized Services (OSS). The Office  provides support and ensures accommodations for students with permanent and temporary disabilities.

“Our primary job as counselors is to try to get to know our students as well as we can, so we know what they need, and then provide that to the best of our ability,” said Abbe Benowitz, a longtime disability counselor within OSS. Through OSS, eligible students can access supports and accommodations such as assistive technology, notetaking, alternative testing arrangements, tutoring and housing accommodations.

Benowitz invited Clenaghan, Desuza, Lohrmann and Pettinelli to share their stories and answer questions about living with a disability and succeeding at college during a panel discussion entitled “Doing Life with a Disability.” The on-campus panel – held during Disability Awareness Month – drew Ramapo students, staff and faculty eager to learn from the students’ experiences.

“We need to give opportunities for students to share their voice, especially our students who have hidden disabilities. They are not always heard or seen because their disability is hidden,” said Benowitz. “So I think that whenever we can, we need to give them the space, the stage, the room, to be able to share what this is like.”

Accessing Support

The students were honest and open about their experiences and how the support they have received as members of Ramapo’s tight-knit community has helped them thrive both academically and socially, and for some, has made it more comfortable and safer to live on campus.

Lohrmann, from Tuckerton in Ocean County, NJ, transferred to Ramapo after sharing a room at another college. “My transition here was flawless. It was amazing. Because of my cystic fibrosis, I ended up with a single room, so I could have my privacy to do my treatments and be able to keep myself safe, especially during flu season,” she shared.

Likewise, Pettinelli said he had a smooth transition from high school to Ramapo.

“It’s been great that I have been able to talk with a lot of my professors openly about my disability. They’ve been very understanding and we’re able to talk about things like if there is a big project or exam coming up,” said Pettinelli of Alpha in Warren County, NJ. Because of his disability, he requires repetition of information in order to fully process information being taught. Professors have allowed him extra time to get things done and to take quizzes in the College’s testing center, he said.

Clenaghan, of Belleville, in Essex County, NJ, also said her professors “have been super accommodating and understanding” when she talks to them about her constant migraines and dyslexia. When she wasn’t doing well in one class, she worked with her professor and OSS counselor to come up with a plan, and ended up getting an A, she said.

Now when Clenaghan speaks to friends outside of Ramapo, and tells them how close she is with her professors and how helpful they and staff are, Clenaghan said she tells them: “That’s the joys of it being public and of it being small, I have access to more opportunities to get more help.”

Desuza, of Metuchen in Middlesex County, NJ, said his time at Ramapo has been “transforming.” He is part of ENHANCE – a therapeutic support program that takes a holistic approach and focuses on social, emotional and organizational growth to assist students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in transitioning to and flourishing in college and beyond. He is also an Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) scholar, involved in numerous clubs and organizations, and even earned a first-year student leadership award.

He has relied on both Counseling Services to talk through feelings, and the STEM Center for tutoring for classes such as Algebra.

More Than Their Disabilities

The Roadrunners said they don’t let their diagnoses define them – and neither should others.

Desuza, who is focused on becoming a recording artist, said people tend to like his personality. “I am outgoing, friendly, someone who can talk to someone, and someone reliable. I don’t let my disability hold me back, rather I use it as a booster pack to keep me going forward.”

Clenaghan said a student’s disability “is not their whole identity.”

“I’m a lot more than someone who suffers from migraines and someone who has dyslexia,” said Clenaghan. She shared she is also a lifeguard, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a student involved in clubs and committees at Ramapo.

“Don’t let your disability define you,” said Pettinelli. “You can do things that maybe you view as slightly more challenging.”

Lohrmann summed up her thoughts: “I hope that everyone knows that they should support and love the people who are around them, no matter if they have a disability or a diagnosis, and to give everyone the same opportunities and daily experiences that people deserve.”

Ramapo College has been recognized by Great Value Colleges as the top college in New Jersey and was ranked 24th in the country on its list of Best Disability Friendly Schools. According to Greatvaluecolleges.net, professional organizations that track disability in the United States note that levels of disability employment, earnings and health vary greatly from state to state, and there is still a vast disparity between American colleges when it comes to educating people with disabilities. Ramapo was distinguished for its “top-notch disability services that allow their students to succeed.”

For information on how the Office of Specialized Services supports Roadrunners, visit the Office of Specialized Services webpage.