Focusing on Ability during Dis-Ability Week

Published: November 12, 2012 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Southern Utah University's Disability Support Center will hold its annual Dis-Ability week Monday, November 12 through Friday, November 16. This annual event was created to help the public better understand the reality and challenges of people with physical disabilities.

“We all have obstacles,” explained Carmen Alldredge, coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities. “We started conducting this event on campus to bring awareness to those differences.”

Each day of Dis-Ability Week will offer events where attendees can learn more about common mental and physical illnesses. To encourage participation across the week, raffle tickets will be distributed at each event for prizes from local businesses. Prize winners will be drawn at an open panel discussion on Thursday afternoon in the Cedar Breaks Room of the Sharwan Smith Student Center.

Monday, November 12

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Art Exhibit, Student Center Ballroom

Presenting oil paintings, photography and sculptures created by SUU students with disabilities. This event will be through Wednesday, November 14.

  • Noon – Autism Presentation, Technology Building, Room 111

Dr. Kimberley Mendenhall, assistant professor in the Department of Family Development and special education specialist, will discuss this increasingly prevalent disease, which impacts one in every 88 children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Noon to 2 p.m. – Obstacle Course, Student Center Rotunda

Created by students within the Multicultural Center and students majoring in special education, this course will give participants a chance to experience various disabilities, including deafness, dyslexia, paraplegia, blindness and autism. The obstacle course will run daily through Friday.

Tuesday, November 13

Art exhibit and obstacle course continues.

  • 10 to 11:20 a.m.  – “Autism, a Parent’s Perspective,” Multipurpose Center

Tim Bello, a parent with autism whose child also has an autism spectrum disorder will discuss how to better understand and help parents with children who have disabilities.

  • 3 p.m. – Common Mental Health Diagnoses, Starlight Room

R.E.A.L. Peers, a student run group providing services, information and resources to students, will discuss the most common mental health diagnoses. 

Wednesday, November 14

Art exhibit and obstacle course continues.

  • High School Presentations

SUU students with a learning or physical disability will present to high school students at Cedar High School and Canyon View High School about the support services available to students with disabilities in college.

  • 3 p.m. – “Good News About Mental Illnesses,” Student Center, Escalante Room

Dr. Jacob Hess, a researcher specializing in mental illness at the Utah Youth Village, will discuss how a mental disorder can be better understood, focusing on recent discoveries in the medical field, to ease the often disabling emotional burden of a mental disorder.

 Thursday, November 15

Obstacle course continues.

  • 1 p.m. – Mental & Physical Disability Panel Discussion, Student Center, Cedar Breaks Room

SUU students with disabilities and health professionals will to answer questions about mental and physical disabilities, focusing on ADHD, anxiety, autism and Asperger’s. After the discussion, raffle tickets will be drawn for attendees to win prizes from local businesses. Must be present to win.

  • 7 p.m. – “Temple Grandin,” Sharwan Smith Theater

Free screening of the acclaimed documentary about an autistic woman who overcame the limitations of her disability to become a PhD and expert in the field of animal husbandry.

Friday, November 16

Obstacle course continues.

  • Noon – SUU Faculty & Staff Training Session, Student Center, Brian Head Room

  Melissa Frost, a loss control consultant with Utah Division of Risk Management, will hold a disability training session in the Brian Head Room located in the Student Center. All faculty and staff are invited to come; please RSVP to Carmen Alldredge, alldredge@suu.edu.

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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