Jana Garnett, director and coordinator of Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) at City College, has balanced the responsibilities of leading the department while remaining dedicated to addressing student needs. 

As director, Garnett has maintained a busy schedule on a day-to-day basis. She engages every hour of every day, making sure students get the support they need through collaboration with counselors and the front office. 

The program has seven counselors available, including Garnett. After reviewing appointments to ensure full support for her team she makes sure students get the support they need and are entitled to. 

Garnett has problem-solving and troubleshooting work she does daily. 

“It might look like a counselor calling me and saying ‘this is a new request, I’m not exactly sure how to manage it’ or we might have a booking-related issue in our test center that needs support,” Garnett said. “I’m always communicating with somebody to ensure that students’ needs are the top priority.”  

Garnett has kept in touch with instructors to ensure that students are being supported the best they can inside the classroom. She manages the budget and fine-tunes policies to make sure DSPS is up to date. 

“If someone were to switch bodies with me for a day, the thing they would be most surprised about is how incredibly stimulating and interesting the work is,” Garnett said. “All of the decisions have to be centered around ensuring that we are not discriminating against students based on disability and ensuring equal access and opportunity.”

Associate Dean of Student Affairs and DSPS Christopher Johnson, said that Garnett has been the heart and soul of DSPS. He said every single scenario is run by her.  

“Her staff and faculty describe her as an oracle or guru and I can see why,” Johnson said. “She is very well-prepared and digs into every student and case with care and thoughtfulness.”

Johnson emphasized the importance of Garnett’s job behind-the-scenes that often goes unseen by students. 

A big part of Garnett’s work is having resilience in tough situations and building relationships and trust with the rest of the staff. 

“What people don’t see is the state reporting, the advocacy for her staff and students, her relentless pursuit to serve students better and her hands-on work with very difficult cases,” Johnson said. 

DSPS has relied on the collaboration of all staff members and Garnett’s ability to build relationships with everyone on her team is the program’s foundation. 

Garnett called DSPS a shared responsibility. 

“I really value teamwork,” Garnett said. “I recognize that each of us is essential to the collective outcome… you can’t have one half of the house without the other.” 

Garnett noted the challenges of COVID-19 and how it affected the process at DSPS. With students now having to navigate through both in-person and online classes.

“Helping students understand how one accommodation would apply in different settings is complicated… it can’t be done in a one-hour intake meeting,” Garnett said.  

Under the new circumstances, Garnett encourages students not to be afraid to ask questions. 

Currently, Garnett has been working on the student equity plan for City College. It is a statewide initiative that would help prioritize student success. 

Garnett wants students to know how accessible and easy it is for them to get certain accommodations. With DSPS one can get extended time on tests, note-taking support, audiobooks and more. 

Garnett emphasized that the students are in the “driver’s seat” and has full control of what accommodations they want and need. 

Staff focus isn’t only on accommodations for students, but also on building relationships with them and ensuring they feel comfortable. 

DSPS strives to foster a supported environment where students feel seen and heard. By taking time to understand individual student needs, Garnett hopes to foster a sense of belonging and trust with students. 

“Knowing information before you walk in puts that student at ease,” Garnett said. “They think ‘oh, this person understands my needs before I have to even ask for them,’” Garnett said. 

For Garnett and her team, providing accommodations goes beyond mere compliance. It’s about dignity, fairness and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to flourish in an educational setting that recognizes, values and nurtures their complete potential.