DREAM Weekly Email, Disability and Higher Education in the News: October 27-November 7, 2014 From DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring Sponsored by the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University ------------------------------- Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order): * New research shows that college health services are not prepared to help students deal with chronic illnesses, and they are more prepared for some conditions (like asthma) versus others (like diabetes). A summary of the research is at consumer.healthday/diabetes-information-10/diabetes-management-news-180/colleges-could-do-better-job-of-caring-for-students-with-chronic-ills-study-finds-693054.html and there is a captioned video (no audio description) at nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/College_Healthcare_102714-1.html *Active Minds has created a “Mental Health Unity Pledge” training, where campus participants can get a sticker to show their room or office as a safe place to talk about mental health: newsworks.org/index.php/nwtonight/item/74652-unity-pledge-advanced-as-rainbow-flag-of-solidarity-for-mental-illness?linktype=hp_nwt * At Syracuse University, student groups are engaging in their fourth protest since the new Chancellor took over less than a year ago, and are now doing a 24/7 sit-in in the administration building. They are protesting a number of changes to diversity-related initiatives (including those related to disability), and a lack of communication about those changes: thegeneralbody.org/ * University of Washington Tacoma students and disability activists are asking the Student Activities Board to end their partnership with the Pierce County Asylum Haunted House and to apologize for contributing to the stigma of mental illness, saying continued funding of the event goes against the university’s commitment to diversity: https://change.org/p/student-activities-board-of-the-university-of-washington-tacoma-formally-apologize-to-those-affected-by-the-partnership-with-the-pierce-county-asylum-haunted-house-add-more-checks-and-balances-in-the-approval-system-for-events * Seton Hill is now offering students the chance to take an online screening for risk factors related to suicide, and it will be offered to every student using health services, counseling and disability services: triblive/news/westmoreland/7053800-74/suicide-hill-seton#axzz3IPOvDhkV * The New York Times profiled Renny Vilorio, an immigrant who is spending his days attending Hofstra with a backpack full of asthma medications, and spending his nights studying in the homeless shelter where he lives: nytimes/2014/11/05/nyregion/pursuing-a-degree-while-balancing-chronic-illness-and-classes.html?_r=0 * Michigan State University and the University of Michigan may have a famous rivalry, but they come together each year for Alex’s Great State Race, to raise funds for disability services on both campuses. The race honors Alex Powell, who got his degree while undergoing cancer treatment, thanks to the disability services office at MSU: statenews/article/2014/10/rcpd-alexs-great-state-race * Blind Texas A&M University sophomore Kaitlyn Kellermeyer came up with a creative and beautiful way to help blind and visually impaired students navigate numerous walking paths on campus – she’s proposing the university place wind chimes in strategic locations: kbtx/home/headlines/Bli-280589742.html * Florida has created state-backed scholarships for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to pay for services and to save for postsecondary coursework, but critics say the money is a voucher system in disguise that funnels money out of special education and public schools: news-journalonline/article/20141026/NEWS/141029518/1040?p=1&tc=pg * Deaf swimming world record holder Matthew Klotz has verbally committed to Louisiana State University for 2015: swimswam/deaf-world-record-holder-matthew-klotz-verbally-commits-lsu/ * “Athletes Connected” at the University of Michigan is a new pilot program for athletes to start discussing and addressing the stigma of mental and emotional health concerns – first steps include producing two videos of student athletes discussing their own stories (please note these videos are not captioned or audio described): michiganradio.org/post/u-m-rolls-out-pilot-program-offer-mental-health-support-student-athletes * When state services for the blind helped Danara Barlow imagine a life beyond Chicago’s low-income housing, she was inspired to do the same for others. Now a student at North Central College, she’s created Project Better to help low-income kids consider college: theherald-news/2014/09/29/former-resident-of-joliet-low-income-housing-returns-to-motivate-kids-to-college/ajovg8m/ * Ruthie Weinmann, a sophomore at Morningside College, has therapy rats (i.e., comfort animals) in her dorm room, and it’s making a difference in her college success: siouxcityjournal/lifestyles/columnists/kuester/rats-provide-comfort-for-college-student-with-depression/article_99482f18-04c5-5f3f-a809-ba07450d49d2.html * Isabell Florence a deaf and blind instructor at Mott Community College, makes a difference through her work teaching and training with the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program: mlive/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/10/mount_morris_woman_is_deafblin.html * There’s a new disability studies program at the University of Maryland, offering a minor and a certificate program: diamondbackonline/news/article_3de74c90-6625-11e4-a188-001a4bcf6878.html * Rather than asking universities to create barrier-free campuses for people with disabilities, India is now asking all universities to earmark funds for the task so it will be completed by next year: articles.economictimes.indiatimes/2014-11-02/news/55682588_1_disabled-students-institutions-ugc * A Boston University student suggests a few simple ways to welcome people with disabilities on campus: bu.edu/today/2014/pov-how-can-universities-welcome-people-with-disabilities/ And a few related items of possible interest to college students: * Any trouble voting? We’re hearing from college students across the country who couldn’t get to the polls, were stuck in rehab hospitals on voting day, couldn’t vote or access voting booths, or were otherwise prevented from participating in election day. Learn more about how to complain to people monitoring the situation: disabilityscoop/2014/11/04/justice-access-polls/19813/ * Have you heard about Brittany Maynard choosing to end her life because of cancer? While controversy rages about her decision, activists with disabilities offer their own take on the situation: badcripple.blogspot/2014/10/the-latest-photogenic-face-of-assisted.html * Athlete Tatyana McFadden won the NYC Marathon wheelchair division – a record eighth win in a row: olympictalk.nbcsports/2014/11/02/tatyana-mcfadden-wins-new-york-city-marathon-wheelchair/ * * Do you have dyslexia or some other disability that made it difficult to write a college application? Goucher College is experimenting with a new video application system and “no SAT scores” policy that may be a great alternative for many students with disabilities: diverseeducation/article/67572/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=e591643508084518bc790ab48ed35c96&elqCampaignId=415d * TedX Talks seem to have a problem talking about disability, but Haben Girma, who is DeafBlind, is working to make things better: thedailybeast/articles/2014/11/05/tedx-talks-have-a-disability-problem-but-this-incredible-young-woman-is-working-to-change-that.html * Using Airbnb for travel? You may need to interpret the term “accessible place to stay” as “easy to use if you can sprout wings:” nypost/2014/11/03/airbnb-spots-dupe-the-disabled-on-accessibility-advocates/ * Susan Mazuri won the “What is the Disability Experience?” Facebook competition for VSA, and you can read the winning poem “Metamorphosis” here: disabilityvisibilityproject/2014/11/03/poetry-by-susan-mazuri/ * One University of Washington professor is taking on superheroes and disability: disabilityscoop/2014/11/04/justice-access-polls/19813/ * Australians fear new legislative bills may lead to elimination of closed captions on TV: theguardian/australia-news/2014/nov/04/closed-caption-requirement-for-tv-may-be-scrapped-disability-advocates-fear * The BBC did a profile of deaf people during WWI in Britain – their stories and roles in the war may surprise you: bbc/news/blogs-ouch-29846154 For more information about DREAM or the Taishoff Center, contact: Wendy Harbour ([email protected]) Or check out the DREAM website at dream.syr.edu To subscribe or unsubscribe to the DREAM email list, fill out the form at dream.syr.edu/contact-us.html and ask to join or leave the listserv. By the way, please dont presume DREAM, the Taishoff Center, or Syracuse University agree with everything in these links we send out - were just passing along the information so you can form your own opinions. Thanks.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:22:36 +0000
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