Manager of ADRC Receives Oakton’s Living Diversity Award

Oakton Community College is proud to recognize Manager of Access and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Teresa O’Sullivan as the recipient of the college’s Living Diversity Award.

The accolade celebrates the idea of “creating a college environment of equity, inclusion, care, compassion and respect for people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.” Inspired by the college’s Diversity Council, the award is given to a person who supports people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Recipients are selected based on the demonstration of commitment and sustained contributions to this goal.

In her role at college, O’Sullivan ensures that students with diverse abilities are ensured equal access and inclusion, which she says is her passion: “This award means a great deal to me. It’s not just a recognition for me, but that the work at the ADRC because disability is a part of human diversity.”

The ADRC is committed to providing support to students with the help of assistive technology. Assistive technology can be any product, device, or equipment used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Oakton’s ADRC has a host of software to help students, including those that transform printed text into spoken words to help with reading, comprehension and writing or those that read text aloud to students from digital and print formats.

“Teresa continuously goes above and beyond her expected job responsibilities to put forth ideas and execute plans of action that advance social justice and equity across our educational community,” says President Joianne Smith. “Her daily efforts to foster respect for all, makes her truly deserving of the Living Diversity Award.”

The award comes with a $1,500 monetary stipend sponsored by the Oakton Community College Educational Foundation.

A Chicago resident, O’Sullivan started at Oakton in 1998. She earned both her master’s degree in special education and bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University.