Being legally blind and hearing impaired has never discouraged Jeanette Jones from being involved in her community. For two decades, the Modesto mother worked in human resources for non-profits while continuously advocating for others with disabilities as part of local and national organizations.
Upon leaving the HR field in 2018, Jones made it a mission to pursue higher education, enrolling at Stanislaus State in 2021 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She earned her degree in 2023 and continued at Stanislaus State to earn a Master of Arts in Psychology. With the support of staff from the University’s Disability Resource Services (DRS) and motivated by her 13-year-old son, Connor, who lives with the same genetic conditions, Jones will complete her master’s degree this spring.
“Coming to Stan State was a no-brainer,” said Jones, 49. “It’s the local University, and when you are a member of a community like I am with fellow blind individuals, you have an idea of which places are really good at offering the extra support that many of us need. After hearing about the experiences of others, what Stan State did for me was beyond my expectations.”
With her degrees, Jones hopes to become a clinical psychologist to help others navigate life with disabilities.
“Through my own life experience, my son’s experiences, and the things that me and my family have lived through, I decided that I really wanted to be able to work with people who have disabilities or illnesses and have experienced trauma that may have impacted their mental health,” Jones explained. “I have a lot of empathy for people, and I just want to help people. More so, I want to help people help themselves.”
Jones has been a longtime member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), an organization that advocates for blind individuals, whether through promoting legislation for greater accessibility, offering resources or creating support networks. Jones was the president of the organization’s Parents of Blind Children (PBC) California division and currently serves as president of the PBC’s Central Valley branch.
Aside from her involvement in the NFB network, Jones is the current president of the Center of Vision Enhancement, based in Merced, whose mission is to support people with any level of visual impairment to enhance their quality of life by developing independence through multi-dimensional services and resources.
Jones said there are strong parallels between the work of the non-profit organizations and that of Stan State’s Disability Resource Services, whose support she received throughout her educational journey.
One of the primary goals of DRS at Stan State is to promote independence and academic excellence for students with disabilities by reducing and eliminating barriers.
Resources that have been especially beneficial to Jones include Alternate Media options, which provide more accessible course materials, including textbooks, supplemental readings and exams, in formats such as electronic text, enlarged print, braille and audio description. Services for deaf and hard of hearing students from DRS have also been an important resource for Jones, as they provide her with interpreters and captioners for what she describes as a relay service, allowing information presented in classes to be communicated to her and her questions and comments to be communicated back. The services also offer note taking support. Outside of the classroom, Jones has also used cart services, in which students with mobility-related disabilities receive golf cart rides to and from classes and other campus activities.
“It’'s all so fantastic,” Jones said. “There are so many things that Disability Resource Services does to help. I can say as someone who has worked with children and people all over California, the work DRS does is second to none. I’ve never seen folks work as hard as our folks do here at Stan State. I have honestly never felt more supported than I have here.”
Jones credited Disability Services Advisor Therese Gardner for helping her navigate life at Stan State. Gardner has been essential in organizing the necessary accommodations for Jones and others. The two met nearly 15 years ago, when Gardner served as a counselor for Jones at the California Department of Rehabilitation.
“She left the Department of Rehabilitation when my time was winding down there,” Jones said. “While I lost Therese as a counselor, when I came back to school to continue my educational journey, she was in her new role, and I was able to gain her as a support person. It has just been really fantastic to work with her.”
“As our paths later converged again at Stanislaus State, she continued to demonstrate her intelligence, insight and capability through advocacy that ensures equal access to the academic environment,” Gardner said.
Gardner praised Jones for overcoming early moments of isolation and for “carrying the weight of confidential equity processes on her own and moving forward with quiet resolve and purpose.”
“She balances family life with intention, raising her child while serving her community as president of her local National Federation of the Blind chapter and lead organizer for Parents of Blind Children,” Gardner said. “Informed by her graduate training in psychology, her leadership is thoughtful, grounded and deeply human. As our professional paths draw to a close, I am grateful for what remains as a friendship, and I look forward to seeing the impact Jeanette will have as a clinical psychologist.”
Jones’ experience at Stan State has made her realize just how much people can achieve regardless of their life experiences, and how much support is available.
“I want all students to know that if you think you might need some extra support, it never hurts to ask and figure out what’'s available,” she said. “There are more services and more people out there willing to help than you may think.
“I’m just a person who always wants to be doing things, always wanting to accomplish something, and it doesn’t matter if I have these disabilities. When it came to me coming back to school, I just decided to go for it. I wasn’t sure how the transition would go, but how could you know if you don’t try?”
It’s also a lesson she hopes her son can learn by example.
“My child is blind and following in my footsteps in a way, as he’s on his own educational journey right now,” Jones said. “I want him to have a really good role model. I want him to be able to say, ‘You know, my mom did it, so I can do it too.’ And that will be the reason why I won't let him say he can't do whatever he puts his mind to. I’ll be the proof that he can.”
