In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), several RVC students, staff, and faculty partnered to create a video series focused on creating disability awareness. These candid conversations explore what it's like to live with a disability and how others can support individuals with disabilities on campus.

The first video features Tricia Wagner, Director of Adult Education, and RVC student Jasmine Oley who share their personal experiences living with migraines. Access the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puPsMBC2nxE

“I felt it would be fitting given the theme this year, to highlight some incredible staff, students, and faculty with disabilities that have chosen RVC as their place of study and work,” said Lynn Shattuck, Disability Support Services Director. “Many of these individuals live with invisible disabilities, and one would never know the challenges and obstacles they deal with on a regular basis.”

Additional videos will be released, discussing anxiety, hearing, and vision loss. In addition to the educational videos, there will be various resources and events happening in recognition of Disability Awareness on the RVC campus.

Allies for Inclusion: The Ability Exhibit will be on campus October 24-26 in the Student Center Atrium. The Ability Exhibit is a self-guided experience designed to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities through respect for others, comfort during interactions, and awareness of disability issues. Stations are interactive and provide participants with suggestions for becoming disability allies on campus.

Exhibit Hours:

·       October 24 & 26 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

·       October 25 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

On October 25, there will also be a workshop on the topic of “Ableism Through the Lens of a Community College” starting at 10:30 a.m. in CLI 1246. In this workshop, discover how excluding others may be unintentional, but ableism (of all the isms in society) appears to be the most accepted and less confronted, even though it works in conjunction with many other isms. You’ll learn about ableism and how it contributes to barriers for community college students, faculty, and staff with disabilities on campus and identify inclusive practices community college stakeholders can use to decrease exclusionary messaging.

Learn more about our Disability Support Services by visiting https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/StudentServices/DisabilityServices/index.cfm.

 

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