Pearl Burgin, 2024 inductee into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame. Photo provided.
San Diego State University graduate Pearl Burgin has been selected as an inductee into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame for the class of 2024. Burgin, currently an employee of San Diego State University’s Office of Student Disability Services, is one of six nominees to receive the honor this year.
The award was established by the National Coalition for Mentoring with Disabilities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It recognizes those who have made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities through mentoring and aims to raise awareness of the importance of mentoring for people with disabilities.
“Being the only career counselor for a year was a real burden, and I think this was my friends’ way of encouraging me to be recognized for all the hard work I was putting in,” Virgin said of the nomination.
Bergin first encountered SDSU’s Disability Student Services as an undergraduate, and it was a great resource for her as a first-generation student who didn’t know at the time that she had a neurodevelopmental and learning disability.
“Without these facilities and the support of the office, it would have been a challenge,” Burgin said.
Inspired by the resources she received, she pivoted from plans to receive marriage and family counseling to plans to pursue a degree in rehabilitation counseling.
Through her role in the Student Disability Services Office, she now supports current and alumni students with their career goals and the jobs they are applying for. Her day-to-day work revolves around reviewing resumes, cover letters, and helping students land jobs.
“We’re preparing our students for the world and teaching them how to navigate their own identities,” Burgin said. “We’re teaching them how to identify their strengths, how to harness their uniqueness and problem-solving skills, and how to apply that to the careers they want.”
“PEARL connects with students at a transitional time in their lives,” said Melinda Lara, former associate director of SDSU’s Center for Student Ability Success. “Once they graduate, students with disabilities often feel a lot of pressure to find a job that matches their interests and skills.”
A key part of her job is preparing employers to not only remove barriers but also be inclusive in their hiring practices.
“And a lot of that involves fighting ableism and stigma, encouraging people with disabilities to think differently and see the value in employing people with disabilities,” Burgin said.
While Bergin said the recognition wasn’t her forte, she couldn’t help but remember that it also sent a larger message to those around her.
“Disabled people are not welcome in many places and it needs to become more common,” Bergin said. “I want to see more disabled people in leadership roles, making decisions and being valued for all that they can offer.”
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd at 3pm. If you would like to attend, you can register here to access the Zoom link.