Notre Dame recognizes disability awareness week week
By CLAIRE HEININGER
News Writer
Notre Dame students will have the opportunity to show their support for and learn more about people with disabilities this week as the Center for Social Concerns, Best Buddies, the Logan Center, Special Friends and Howard Hall unite to present Disability Awareness Week on campus.
The recognition begins Monday, when silver awareness ribbons will be available for students and faculty to display their support for the disabled members of the University community.
On Tuesday, junior Laura Hoffman will lead a discussion titled "Life After College," in which she will address the difficulties disabled students face upon graduation. Notre Dame and Saint Mary's graduates with learning disabilities, visual impairments, cerebral palsy and various types of physical disabilities must understand their capabilities and determine their new level of independence, such as handling daily living tasks and transportation. It is also crucial that they become familiar with the protective terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in obtaining specific employment accommodations.
Students without disabilities are also encouraged to attend, said Marissa Runkle, community-based learning coordinator for the Logan Center. "We all can benefit from hearing the perspectives of students with disabilities," she said.
The talk will be held in the Notre Dame Room on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.
Another discussion, "How to Work with a Child with Special Needs," will be held at the CSC on Wednesday, featuring panel guests who have experience working with disabled children and adults. Several have been participants in the Notre Dame Special Friends club, working closely with autistic children. Two other guests are members of ND/SMC Super Sibs, and have brothers with Down Syndrome and mental retardation.
The week's keynote event will be held on Thursday in DeBartolo 101 with Girard Sagmiller, author of the book "Dyslexia, My Life."
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 17.5 percent of Americans have language-based learning disabilities, including notables Tom Cruise, Cher and Thomas Edison. Sagmiller will relate his own experiences as a member of this considerable part of the population. His talk will share obstacles such as being wrongly diagnosed with mental retardation in elementary school and feeling isolated and misunderstood by his teachers and peers, as well as his eventual triumph as a computer programmer.
The week culminates Friday as students who have attended events are encouraged to display awareness by wearing their ribbons and sharing their knowledge with others. Ribbons are available from any residence hall president or the Center for Social Concerns.
All News Stories for Monday, February 24, 2003
