Busy student does not let narcolepsy slow her down

When college students say they are exhausted, people might assume it’s from all that late-night studying. For Emma Pereira, ’28, feeling very tired is a symptom of a neurological disorder. 

Emma has narcolepsy, which affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles and causes brief episodes of muscle weakness called cataplexy. While she worries people might perceive her as lazy, she’s found an understanding and supportive community of faculty, staff and peers at BSU.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ makes it easy to feel welcome,” said the first-year political science major from Middleboro. “I’ve changed so much as a person being here. … I’ve never felt alone, which is a lot of people’s fear.”

Narcolepsy causes people to go into a deep sleep such that it is harder to wake up. Paradoxically, the more they sleep, the more tired they become. They may also unwillingly fall asleep in public locations such as a classroom.

Emma knew something was wrong in high school when she often slept 13 hours a day yet was still exhausted. After doctor’s visits and a sleep study, Emma received a diagnosis during her senior year.

“It was like we finally got answers, but it also opened up a lot of questions,” she said.

That uncertainty included how Emma would adjust to college. But she realized she had nothing to fear at BSU after meeting with staff in Student Accessibility Services. They showed a genuine interest in her as a person and talked about the ways they could help her have a successful college experience.

“Before they even asked for paperwork or legal things, they asked me about myself and navigating life with narcolepsy and cataplexy,” she said. “They were so happy to help, which was refreshing.”

Emma lives on campus, which she said makes it easier than back in high school to get to class if she oversleeps. Having fewer classes each day also helps, and professors are very understanding and accommodating if, for example, she is late to a class.

At BSU, Emma has made many friends who she said are completely accepting of her. If she naps after class, her roommate even makes sure to wake her up for dinner. She is a member of the Honors Program, plays on an intramural volleyball team, and attends Caribbean Ancestry Student Association events – all while making the fall dean’s list.

“I’m really thankful I was given the opportunity to do my best here,” she said. “I feel supported.”

Emma, who received the Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship from the nonprofit Project Sleep, aims to become a professor. One day, she may even pay it forward by supporting other students who are diagnosed with narcolepsy.

“Absolutely, don’t be afraid your narcolepsy is going to get in the way of anything,” she said of her advice for others. “There’s so much we want to do.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

�����ؿ���Ƶ makes it easy to feel welcome. I’ve changed so much as a person being here. … I’ve never felt alone, which is a lot of people’s fear.

Student Accessibility Services unveils new comfortable, friendly place to go for support

The natural light filtering into room 106 inside the Rondileau Student Union creates a feeling of warmth, making the space feel comfortable and cozy, even on a winter day when temperatures are below freezing.

“That’s exactly what we are going for,” said Jenna Shales, director of �����ؿ���Ƶ State University’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS), located within the Academic Achievement Center.

A ribbon cutting was held at RSU106 on Jan. 22 to mark the opening of the SAS Suite.

The staff of SAS works with students that have documented learning, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities; medical diagnoses or physical challenges; psychological diagnoses or autism. Their work involves identifying and removing barriers to full participation in the university experience. Students may receive classroom or campus-community accommodations, access to assistive technology, and referrals to additional resources.

“The SAS mission is to help students fully access the university experience the way they want to access it,” Shales said.

This extends beyond the traditional academic supports.

“We’re empowered to go beyond that. We work across all divisions with the same goals.  We want to provide students with accommodations in places like resident life and housing, in clubs and organizations, operations,” Shales said. 

The SAS Suite was designed after students voiced their desire to have a designated space that incorporates a variety of elements promoting accessibility. Students asked for sensory opportunities, comfortable furniture, natural lighting, private meetings areas, and, generally, a space they could be proud of.

�����ؿ���Ƶ was able to accommodate these requests and more. The suite also includes extra-wide doorways, adjustable-height desks, low-skid flooring, size-inclusive seating, weighted blankets, and push-button door access.

According to Shales, under the leadership of President Frederick W. Clark Jr, �����ؿ���Ƶ has taken a very clear stance as being an institution the believes every student, no matter what their circumstances, should not only succeed but experience university life on their terms.

“BSU is seen as trailblazing in the work that we do,” Shales said. “Our programming is focused on helping people find their space. To help people feel like they belong. It’s our job to help people get there.”

That help extends beyond the walls of the SAS Suite, Shales said, it includes the entire community. 

“Regardless of the role you play on campus, whether you are faculty, staff, administrator, a neighbor of BSU...we’re here to partner with you and help you figure out what you can do, to continue to work together,” Shales said. “We want people to be more aware that we are here as a resource and will continue to work to keep the momentum moving forward.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

BSU is seen as trailblazing in the work that we do. Our programming is focused on helping people find their space. To help people feel like they belong. It’s our job to help people get there.

When a severe bacterial infection left Mackenzie Giordano in a coma, doctors worried she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk never mind graduate college.

But Giordano wouldn’t take no for an answer. After almost three months in the hospital and intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, a determined Giordano defied expectations by walking, talking and earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from �����ؿ���Ƶ State.

“I wanted to get better,” said Giordano, who completed her degree in December. “I wanted to get my life back.”

After graduating from �����ؿ���Ƶ-Raynham Regional High School in 2018, Giordano enrolled at the University of Alabama, where she earned a spot on the cheerleading team. During her first semester, she started to feel ill and got into a car crash when she tried to drive herself to the hospital. In addition to bacterial meningitis, she suffered a stroke that weakened her right side and had an abscess on her brain. At one point, doctors didn’t think she would survive.

But Giordano made a remarkable recovery and turned her attention back to college. �����ؿ���Ƶ, which is just five minutes down the road from her home, was a natural fit as she increased her academic load from a couple of courses to becoming a full-time student again.

“I thought I would eventually go back to Alabama,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much I would actually love BSU. I felt very comfortable there. It was awesome.”

Giordano, who still has some weakness in her right side, praised Student Accessibility Services for help with accommodations such as having a notetaker and extra time to write answers to exams. Professors, she said, were equally supportive.

“They at first helped me ease back into college,” she said. “They were just wonderful. They were so accommodating and nice.”

After exploring degree possibilities, Giordano – who has always been an athlete – found a fit in exercise physiology. She hopes to become a nurse so she can help others just like the many medical professionals who assisted her.

“I think I would make a great nurse,” Giordano said. “I can inspire people because I’ve been through it.”

She’s already doing so just by sharing her journey.

“Never give up,” she said. “Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Never give up. Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.

Paul Ridikas, ’24, aspires to create a more accessible and accepting world. It’s a broad goal, but Paul is driven by his personal experiences and the opportunities he pursued as a BSU student.

At age 2, Paul was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, a mild case of Asperger’s syndrome, and non-specified pervasive developmental disorder, a condition that affects communication and comprehension.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ has helped me overcome these challenges by getting support from other people,” he said, praising connections with faculty, staff and his peers. “They’re helping me become an advocate and a leader for the disability community.”

Paul especially appreciates BSU’s Access Advocates program. Developed by Student Accessibility Services, the initiative brings together students with and without disabilities. They study physical, technological and other forms of accessibility and complete a service project. Some students even perform an accessibility audit on campus.

Participants have already made a difference by raising awareness and convincing BSU to improve student desks in classrooms, said Tabby Smith, '17, G'20, an accessibility specialist and organizer of Access Advocates.

“I would love for our students to become more aware and confident in their leaderships skills as well as their advocacy,” Smith said, adding that the program stemmed from student interest in promoting accessibility.

Paul, who developed a poster describing how some disabilities are invisible to others, is a passionate student who truly embraces the program, she said.

And his campus involvement extends far beyond Access Advocates. He’s a senator in the Student Government Association and a member of Program Council, Best Buddies and Bears Who Care, among other organizations.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ State has helped me expand my horizons more,” said Paul, who is majoring in communication and media studies and hopes to pursue a graduate degree at BSU. “I think �����ؿ���Ƶ helped me feel empowered to share what I feel and help people.”

Now Paul has set his sights even higher. He hopes to dedicate his career to supporting people with disabilities. Having been a victim of bullying, he would like to spark nationwide changes in how bullying is addressed.

“I’m an advocate for myself and others around me,” he said. “I want to make society a better place for the disability community and make sure people are included.”

The spring semester Access Advocates program begins Jan. 31. For more information, email sas@bridgew.edu.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

�����ؿ���Ƶ has helped me overcome these challenges by getting support from other people. They’re helping me become an advocate and a leader for the disability community.