A Primer on Disabilities: The Nuts and Bolts

An overview of the different types of disabilities with a brief explanation of how these disabilities hinder learning.

Joanne Rusnak currently serves as a Counselor in the Office of Accessibility at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC). She has worked in Higher Education for over ten years. In her role at the college, she coordinates services for students with disabilities and assists them to access their education. She manages the Safe Zone program across all campuses at RCCC and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is passionate about advocacy and social justice work and strives to create safe spaces for all students.  She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany in Anthropology. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is a member of both AHEAD and NCAHEAD. In her spare time, she volunteers as the Foster Coordinator for North Meck Animal Rescue.

Joanne Rusnak MA, LCMHC, NCC