Cornell University: Brian Meersma of West Windsor will be honored at Learning Ally’s national gala celebration in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 18. A freshman at Cornell, he is one of six students from across the United States who will receive cash awards and travel with their families.
An accomplished student, Meersma achieved dean’s list status in his first semester at Cornell. He uses his technological savvy, a supportive educational environment, and access to resources such as Learning Ally to manage his dyslexia.
Some of his middle and high school teachers warned that reading with technology was a crutch, creating a dependence that would impede his learning and limit his success. “I’ve never minded being the only one in class reading on a computer or tablet. What I do mind is the alternative — being the only one who doesn’t understand the book,” says Meersma. Without assistive technology, Meersma struggled mightily — until he was guided by Brian Friedlander, a New Jersey-based assistive technology specialist, and the support of his family.
“I do almost all of my reading using audio and text-to-speech technologies,” says Meersma in a press release. “I don’t see it as a crutch; it is a necessary tool. I have cousins who are blind and they read using their fingers to feel the letters on the page. Most of my friends and family read using their eyes. I read using both my eyes and ears. The way I think about it, we all just have different ways of getting information.”
Meersma’s fascination with the tools that enabled him to thrive, and his desire to contribute to the community drove him to launch an acclaimed assistive technology blog, which quickly grew to reach a large audience of teachers, administrators, parents, and students. He also ran a summer reading club for students who are dyslexic to “teach them how cool it is to read with technology and not have to struggle through every word.” One of the participant’s parents remarked, “I am in awe of Brian. He provides a service to students with dyslexia so they won’t have to struggle or be labeled as different and so they can achieve in life and school. My own child has dyslexia and has denied his disability because he didn’t want to be different. Brian took his difference and made a difference.”
Now Meersma is frequently approached to give presentations on technologies for students who have learning differences like dyslexia. He has also become involved in legislative advocacy with the goal of improving support for students with disabilities. “As I learn more about computers, technology and public policy in college,” says Meersma, “I hope to contribute to developing the next generation of accessible technology and finding other ways to support equal access for people with dyslexia and other disabilities.”
Colgate University: Students on the dean’s list include Kory Beach of West Windsor, a physics major and a graduate of High School South; and Jessica Li of Plainsboro, a geography major and a graduate of High School North.
Emory University’s Oxford College: Devavrath Dabbara of West Windsor is on the merit list. Students on the honor list include Alona Mostowy and Robert Bamford of West Windsor. Pranav Venkatraman of Plainsboro is also on the dean’s list and received an associate of arts degree.
Fairfield University: Erin McElwee of West Windsor is on the dean’s list.
James Madison University: Christiana Chandler McGuigan of Plainsboro graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology.
University of Mary Washington: Cassandra Sciortino of West Windsor was named to the president’s list. She is a senior.
Pratt Institute: Students on the dean’s list include Plainsboro residents LaDell Bligen, Mallika Ramachandran, and Veronika Avloshenko; and Gina Nikbin of West Windsor. Students on the president’s list include Lydia Tam of Plainsboro and Lucy Davis of West Windsor.
Widener University: Nicole Crossey, a senior majoring in political science, international relations, and history major from Plainsboro, was inducted as a member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society.
