University Celebrates Disability Awareness and Appreciation Month

Throughout October, the Disability Cultural Center (DCC), united with cross campus partners, is hosting Disability Awareness and Appreciation Month.

“This month is important because it’s a chance for students to experience different ways of thinking about disability. Here at the DCC, we recognize disability as a form of diversity, identity and as a source of pride,” says DCC Director Elizabeth Taets Von Amerongen. “We define disability broadly to include our friends, family and members of our community with mental health, learning and substance abuse disabilities, making us an enormously diverse community.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, starting at 7:30 p.m., the campus community is invited to attend the Mental Crossroads Panel hosted by the Student Association and DCC panel representatives. Another highlight of the month includes the free performance of comedian Drew Lynch, on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10 p.m. in Grant Auditorium. During this Orange After Dark and DCC co-sponsored event, Lynch weaves his disability into his stand-up act.

Wednesday, Oct. 23, marks Disability Mentoring Day on campus. As a host site for mentees, this nationwide event provides career support and development to students with disabilities. Additional activities include joining the SU Goes Purple decorating contest, hosted by the Barnes Center at The Arch as part of Domestic and Dating Violence Awareness Month. Through participating, the DCC hopes to bring awareness to disabled victims of domestic abuse, some of whom may not have the resources to advocate for themselves.

Opportunities for involvement extend beyond the month’s programming and include joining many of the great disability-centered groups and organizations on campus. Additionally, the DCC hosts the opportunity for two undergraduate students to join the team as peer mentors within the Access Mentoring Program; the application and additional details are available in Handshake, Syracuse University’s career management platform. Students may access Handshake using their NetID and password to find jobs, internships, and career development events and to connect with employers.

For more information on Disability Awareness and Appreciation Month, contact Taets Von Amerongen at sudcc@syr.edu or visit the DCC website. For more information on the Disability Cultural Center, contact the DCC team at sudcc@syr.edu or call 315.443.0228.

Story by Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience communications intern Carina Coestad ’22.