Oct. 7, 2011
CUA to Celebrate Disability Awareness Month with Workshops, Film Screening
The Catholic University of America is celebrating Disability Awareness Month with a talk by Paralympics gold medalist Ann Cody, a workshop about mental health disabilities, and the screening of a movie that highlights the true story of a Vietnam veteran who became an advocate for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"Disability Awareness Month is a time for everyone to embrace their differences and accept individuals for who they are regardless of their individual disabilities," says Emily Lucio, director of disability support services.
"The University hopes that members of the CUA community will attend these events and walk away having learned something new about others as well as themselves. Anyone can change the world. Together we can create a world of acceptance and equality."
Details about the events, which are sponsored by the Office of Disability Support Services, follow.
- Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6 p.m., Ann Cody, a Paralympic gold medalist and member of the U.S. Wheelchair Sports Hall of Fame, will talk about her life and sports career. Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center, Great Room C.
- Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the workshop "A Campus-wide Approach: Access for College Students with Mental Health Disabilities." Pryzbyla Center, Room 320C. Barbara Blacklock of the University of Minnesota's Office of Disability Services will present a workshop for faculty and staff about the challenges that students with mental health disabilities can face on college campuses, and how to develop strategies to reduce those challenges. Registration is required. To register, click here .
- Monday, Oct. 17, 5:30 p.m., a Read and Write Gold software tutorial for those who may need additional help in reading, writing, research, and studying. Pryzbyla Center, Room 321. Free pizza will be served.
- Wednesday, Oct. 19, 7:45 p.m., a screening of the movie "Music Within," which tells the true story of Richard Pimentel, who returns from Vietnam severely hearing -impaired and becomes an advocate for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pryzbyla Center, second floor food court. Free popcorn will be served.
- Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m., Smart Start Dinner, Pryzbyla Center, rooms 321/323. Students are invited to join the disability support services staff for dinner and discussion.
- Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spread the Word to End the Word event, Pryzbyla Center, second floor lobby. Catholic University's Best Buddies chapter and the disability support services office invite members of the CUA community to pledge to end the derogatory use of the R-word. For more information, click here .
- Members of the CUA community are invited to join Campus Ministry in praying for people with disabilities at liturgies throughout October.
To request disability accommodations, call 202-319-5211 at least one week prior to an event. For more information on CUA's Disabilities Awareness Month activities, click here .
