Thanks to JDP student Marina Nakhla (entering class of 2018), for helping to establish the first society for students with disabilities at UC San Diego, Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society (DAPi)!
[Update since this article was published: The Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society (DAPi) is now active at UC San Diego.]
"Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society (DAPi) was introduced at UC San Diego in September of 2020 by graduate researcher Marina Nakhla and faculty member Adam Fields. While it has not been formally established yet, once it has been it will become the first society for students with disabilities at UC San Diego.
DAPi has 168 established chapters nationwide, though the only UC campuses that have active chapters are UC Irvine and UC Riverside. According to their constitution, the purpose of DAPi is to recognize the academic accomplishments of students with disabilities, to facilitate the development of leadership and advocacy skills, and encourage members to become mentors and role models.
Nakhla and Fields are also both members of the Diversity Committee and Disability Subcommittee at UCSD’s Department of Psychiatry.
Marina Nakhla told The Triton they would like to provide opportunities for peer mentorship support and networking, create student advocates and ensure that the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) follows through with all approved accommodations for students. She would also like to involve other departments and more faculty members to include disability to be part of diversity training."
Read the full Triton Newspaper article here: https://triton.news/2021/01/students-push-for-disability-honor-society-at-ucsd
