To honor and celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Syracuse University and the Southeast ADA Center are holding a hybrid presentation, “Why No One Has To Be Normal Anymore,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Dec. 1.
Stephen Kuusisto, the University Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach at the Burton Blatt Institute, will honor contemporary disability culture, delivering a presentation addressing the less-than-nuanced history of normalcy and how such a concept has been constructed from the Victorian era until modern times.
A panel discussion featuring University faculty, staff and students will follow, addressing the topic of disability arts and culture.
The talk will occur on campus in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons in Bird Library, and online via Zoom. Registration is required. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided, and light refreshments will be served.
“If the history of disability teaches us anything, it’s that disability life stands for freedom and not oppression,” Kuusisto says.
This free event is sponsored by the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach and the Southeast ADA Center in the Burton Blatt Institute, with the support of the Center on Disability and Inclusion, the Office of Academic Affairs, Atrocity Studies, the Disability Cultural Center, the Center for Disability Resources, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Syracuse University Libraries.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities was originally proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly to promote an understanding of disability issues around the globe while increasing awareness of how the inclusion of disabled people in every aspect of life benefits everyone.
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near Syracuse where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….
Early in his career, Paulo De Miranda G’00 embarked on several humanitarian aid and peacekeeping assignments around the world. “When we concluded our tasks, we wrote reports about our field work, but many times felt that little insight was given…
College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez, director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom…
After over four decades of dedicated service to the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), Professor Gerald Greenberg is retiring at the end of 2025. He transitioned from his role as A&S senior associate dean for academic affairs; humanities; and…
Alonna Berry ’11, executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice and a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, is the new president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association (SUAA) Board of Directors, as of July 1, 2025….
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
