Michael Duggan, Counselor for Students with Disabilities and Chair of the Safe Zone Committee, knows the importance of creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ community on campus. Since the committee’s inception, he and the committee have trained more than 550 COD educators on how to create a Safe Zone in their classroom or office.
Duggan earned his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and his Ed.D. in Community College Leadership focusing his research on community college students with disabilities. His first book, "First Class Support for Students on the Autism Spectrum," published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, provides practical advice to parents and college educators on how to develop a plan leading to higher education success for neurodiverse students.
In his 20 years at COD, Duggan co-founded Autismerca, an organization to help students with autism meet in a positive and supportive environment. The group is designed to introduce students, community members and their parents to a wealth of resources at COD and the greater DuPage County area. He also developed Project COACH, a two-year structured cohort program for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities seeking to better establish vocational and independent living skills.
Contact Duggan at duggan@cod.edu (630) 942-2845.
We know from the research that students will often come out to educators or people they feel comfortable with. Having Safe Zone's on campus allows for students to feel heard and supported.
- Michael Duggan, Counselor for Students with Disabilities
Areas of Expertise
- Safe Spaces on Campus
- Inclusive Language
- Access and Accommodations
- Students with Disabilities
- Autismerica