Stony Brook University Athletics is working with KultureCity to make Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, Island Federal Arena and all of the programs and events hosted within them sensory inclusive.

Made possible by a gift from alumnus Antony Bonavita ’99, ’09, and his wife Jaclyn Bonavita ’00, ’02, this new initiative will promote an accommodating and positive experience for all guests and fans with a sensory issue that visit LaValle Stadium and Island Federal Arena.

Sensory Inclusive Equipment

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. With its new certification, Stony Brook is now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when attending any event at LaValle Stadium and Island Federal Arena.

“To know that you soon will be able to see families attend a football or basketball game, a true community binding experience, with their loved ones who have a sensory challenge and who were not able to previously attend, is truly a heartwarming moment,” Traci Johnson, KultureCity Executive Director, said.

Stony Brook University becomes the fourth university nationally to be certified as sensory inclusive along with Adelphi University, Boise State University (Taco Bell Arena) and North Carolina State University (Reynolds Coliseum and Carter Finley Stadium).

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/athletics/stony-brook-athletics-embraces-sensory-inclusive-fan-experience/

Ten talented high school female students and their chaperones came to campus on July 18-19 for two days filled with pre-college workshops, tours and lab experiences.

The students, chosen by the Long Island Latino Teachers Association (LILTA), are rising juniors and seniors from Central Islip, Brentwood and Bayshore schools.

The group exploring the wilderness on campus.

For pre-college support, students attended an admissions workshop where they learned guidelines for choosing a college and information on the admissions process. They had a geosciences lesson as they explored the campus grounds while learning about the gardens, various lawns and wooded areas of the University.

“The process of getting to college is challenging, and I really like how the staff here have all been welcoming,” said Hilda Orama, a teacher in the Central Islip School District and volunteer for LILTA.

The program was managed through the Office of Government and Community Relations and supported by the President’s Office Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/oncampus/first-lilta-young-women-summer-institute-program-held-at-stony-brook/

Stony Brook University welcomed the community to campus at CommUniversity Day on Saturday, September 22.

The free festival gave the audience of roughly 3,500 friends, employees, families and students a chance to explore many interactive, hands-on activities and captivating performances coordinated through more than 300 University volunteers.

Many different departments and groups from the campus were represented with nearly 110 tables showcasing health, safety, arts, traditions, food and technology. Visitors tried their hand at the giant Pac-Mac Maze, dug for ‘fossils’ in the Kenya Dig-It, and learned the impact of how water moves through land at the river stream table.

“Stony Brook University has so much to offer. CommUniversity Day was a great way for our neighbors to experience the many points of pride from our campus community,” said President Samuel L. Stanley. “We want our neighbors to know that they are welcome here.”

CommUniversity Day was created and directed by the Office of Community Relations. The event was supported by a dozen team leaders and hundreds of volunteers, and funded through the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/thousands-of-smiles-at-communiversity-day/