Meet Gabriel Pangan!

by Eva Wu

Meet Gabriel Pangan!
Maccess Promotions Executive.

Gabriel is currently in his fifth and final year of Honours Chemistry. He chose to pursue chemistry because it aligns with his research interests and he has been drawn to chemistry since high school. He is particularly interested in understanding the underlying truths of molecular behavior, as well as the many exceptions that make chemistry complex and compelling. Outside of academics, he enjoys dancing, working out, creative writing, and photography.

He currently works as a promotions executive and peer support worker at Maccess, where he creates social media content focused on disability awareness, including humorous videos that highlight disability and community connection. The most meaningful part of his experience at Maccess has been building and engaging with a community of people with disabilities.

At McMaster, he finds Student Accessibility Services (SAS), the Student Wellness Centre (SWC), Mactivate, and the ADAPT program at The Pulse to be especially valuable resources.

 Gabriel recognizes several common challenges that chemistry students with disabilities may face. This includes sensory overload from lab equipment and environments, unfamiliar settings, unclear instructions, and the difficulty of disclosing disabilities to teaching staff. He believes these challenges can be better addressed through clearer supports, such as instructional videos, well-structured written materials, and transition reports for each lab. These accommodations would help students feel more prepared for the lab and confident about expectations.

Access to support on campus has allowed him to reconnect with the disabled community, something he deeply values. This community has played a significant role in shaping both Gabriel’s personal growth and his academic journey. Without them, he feels his perspective might have been overlooked or lost.

Gabriel’s advice to students with disabilities navigating university is to take the time to understand themselves in a clear and detailed way. Through different experiences, individuals can learn how they interpret the world on their own terms, without being defined by others’ opinions.