The Disability Cultural Center (DCC), within the Division of Student Affairs, along with a number of Syracuse University partners, will play host to a wide range of events throughout October, designated as Disability Awareness Month. The list of events starts with a DCC Open House and inclusive screening of Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out” in partnership with Orange After Dark (OAD).
Disability Awareness Month is about bringing attention to disabilities as a part of the human experience. The hope is that, after attending a host of informative and interesting events held throughout the month, people will carry this new knowledge and experience into their lives throughout the entire year. Through film, guest lectures, meals and more, members of the Syracuse University community can learn more about a topic that touches everyone’s lives in some way.
This year’s events start off with an exciting new partnership on the SU campus. “It’s an immense pleasure and privilege to commence Disability Awareness Month 2015 by screening ‘Inside Out’, our signature event, as a collaboration between Orange After Dark and the Disability Cultural Center,” says Diane Wiener, director of the DCC. “‘Inside Out’ presents students and all members of the Syracuse University community with a vibrant and engaging opportunity to come together and talk about our inner and outer lives.”
“Orange After Dark is proud to partner with the Disability Cultural Center to present a groundbreaking initiative between these offices within the DSA,” says Courtney Jones, assistant director in the Office of Student Activities and coordinator of OAD programming. “We look forward to many more opportunities for collaboration with this office and many more across campus.”
For any and all questions or comments regarding Disability Awareness month, contact Diane Wiener via email. Follow the events on Twitter at #DisabilityAwarenessSU.
Disability Awareness Month events include:
Friday, Oct. 2
Fourth Annual Disability Cultural Center (DCC) Open House, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Rooms 105, 106 and 108, Hoople Building
Come visit with the DCC staff and community members over inclusive snacks. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.
Friday, October 2
Orange After Dark and Disability Cultural Center Screening of “Inside Out”, 10 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse (HBC)
OAD and the DCC present an inclusive screening of Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out” with open captioning! There will be free inclusive snacks starting at 9:15 p.m. and ASL interpretation will be provided. A discussion facilitated by Courtney Jones and Diane Wiener will be held directly following the film. For any accommodation requests, please contact oad@syr.edu as soon as possible.
This event’s information can be found here. In the event of inclement weather, the location may be changed. Check the OAD website for updates. Orange After Dark is on Twitter: @OAD_SU #OrangeAfterDark
Monday, Oct. 5
“The ADA at 25: Public Lecture and Discussion,” 5 p.m., Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, Room 114, Bird Library
Featuring Professor Lennard Davis, author of the new book “Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest U.S. Minority Its Rights.”
ASL interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided. Contact Kate Hanson via email with any questions regarding accommodations and parking, by Thursday, Oct. 1.
This event is co-sponsored by the Renée Crown University Honors Program, the College of Law, the Disability Cultural Center and the Consortium for Culture and Medicine.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Steven J. Taylor Memorial Reading Series: A Series of Gatherings to Remember, Honor and Uphold the Legacy of Dr. Steven J Taylor, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Room 013, Hoople Building
Presented by The Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee (BCCC). Readings for discussion will include: Cory, White and Stuckey (2010) “Using Disability Studies Theory to Change Disability Services: A Case Study in Student Activism” and Taylor (2003) “Accommodating Beyond Compliance: The Faculty Mindset.” Contact Layla Dehaiman via email for copies of the two readings and to be added to the BCCC listserv. All files are in Word. BCCC will have a round-table discussion about these readings and more about Professor Taylor will be shared. ASL interpretation and snacks provided.
Friday, Oct. 16
A Place at the Table: Food Justice, Disability Rights: Celebrating the ADA @ 25, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m., Room 106, Hoople Building
This will be a “lunch and learn” panel moderated by Diane R. Wiener, director of the Disability Cultural Center, to explore food-related questions while providing a more normalized eating environment for those routinely left out of food culture.
The panel includes Food Studies’ Graduate Program Director and Professor Anne Bellows and Assistant Professor Evan Weissman.
ASL interpretation, gluten-free food and Kosher food will be provided. Please indicate any accommodation requests by Friday, Oct. 9, to sudcc@syr.edu.
This event is co-sponsored by the Disability Cultural Center, Lisa Thomas of Health Services, the Disability Student Union, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, the Food Studies Program and the Disability Law and Policy Program at the College of Law. This event is made possible through the Co-Curricular Departmental Initiatives program within the Division of Student Affairs.
Tuesday, Oct. 20
“Along the ‘Edges’ of Intersectionality” with Assistant Professor Eunjung Kim, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Leonard and Ruth Sainsbury Library, Tolley Humanities Building
As part of the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) Brown Bag Series and Disability Studies Brown Bag Series, Professor Kim of WGS and Cultural Foundations of Education will lead this lunchtime discussion.
Please send accommodation requests to Susann DeMocker-Shedd via email by Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Interfaith Dialogue Dinner Series (with Time for Mindful Meditation): Disability Culture, Faith, and Secularism, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Noble Room, Hendricks Chapel
Exploring the intersections of spirituality, secularism and timely issues of the day, each interfaith dialogue dinner encourages intentional dialogue across differences. It is hoped that by gathering together on common ground over a shared meal, a vibrant environment of peaceful and life-giving conversation around important and potentially divisive issues can be created.
The session will be co-facilitated by chaplains, staff and students and ASL interpretation will be provided. Inclusive food will be provided and requests for accommodations or food queries should be made by Wednesday, Oct. 14, by contacting Colleen Preuninger via email.
This series is co-sponsored by Hendricks Chapel and the Disability Cultural Center, made possible through the Co-Curricular Departmental Initiatives program within the Division of Student Affairs.
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Disability Mentoring Day
The Disability Cultural Center, along with many sponsors across and beyond Syracuse University, will again be hosting a mentee for Disability Mentoring Day. Disability Mentoring Day is an international event hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities in collaboration with the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Disability Mentoring Day is held annually on the third Wednesday of October.
October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) a time to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year, NDEAM is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities is a recruitment and referral program that connects college students and recent graduates with disabilities to U.S. government and private-sector employers nationwide. An annual database is compiled by December that federal and other employers then use to identify and further interview qualified persons for paid positions. More information can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor website and Chuck Reutlinger, associate director of SU Career Services, can be contacted via email regarding the Workforce Recruitment Program. Deadline for students to apply is Oct. 16.
