​DREAM Weekly Email: January 10-16, 2016

​DREAM Weekly Email, Disability and Higher Education in the News: January 10-16, 2016
From DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring
Sponsored by the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
 -------------------------------
Weekly Email Update on Issues Related to Disability and Higher Education 
Week of January 10-16, 2016
-------------------------------
 Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):
 
* Coverage continues of student Navi Dhanota and her successful fight to be sure Canadian university students don’t have to disclose diagnoses to get accommodations for mental and emotional health needs: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/12/york-university-student-wins-mental-health-fight.html
 
* Heard of “smart drugs” Alertec, Modavigil or Provigil?  These drugs for narcolepsy and apnea are being used to by university students to help attention and memory, but they carry some nasty short and long-term side effects: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35091574
 
* African-American students are likely to feel less emotionally prepared for college, and less likely to seek out help when they need it, leading to “duck syndrome” (looking calm on the surface but paddling furiously beneath it) – coverage in http://www.wsj.com/articles/campus-researchers-try-new-ways-to-close-a-gap-in-mental-health-care-1452535197 and http://chronicle.com/article/Many-Black-Students-Don-t/234892
 
* One of only four deaf certified athletic trainers in the country, Tom McKnight talks about his career path, support from faculty, and how his career path changed during his time at Gallaudet University: https://amphl.org/in-retrospect-journey-of-a-deaf-athletic-trainer/
 
* Fiji is reporting an increase in college students with disabilities, thanks to more inclusive education in schools: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=336861
 
* In a coma since January 1, diabetic Norfolk State basketball player Amber Brown has awakened, although she has a long road to recovery: http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14571039/norfolk-state-spartans-basketball-player-amber-brown-no-longer-coma
 
* Several new federal initiatives are trying to open college to homeless and foster care youth (a population with a high incidence of disability, including mental health issues): http://diverseeducation.com/article/80208/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=4dc9246db3514e83aa7d938522b16607&elqCampaignId=771&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqTrackId=b05d623ebb1d4a0ca3b1c0c258414adf
 
* Paul Louden is lauded as the knowledgeable host of Houston-based “Theories of Mind” radio show about autism, mental health and neurodiversity, but he says colleges were not willing to provide him with individualized accommodations he needs: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Autistic-radio-host-promotes-neurodiversity-6743943.php
 
* How are we training sign language interpreters, and what does it mean that only 12% of them are people of color?  Researcher Erica West Oyedele discusses her research (video has no captions or audio description; a transcript follows the introductory text): https://www.streetleverage.com/2015/09/missing-narratives-in-interpreting-and-interpreter-education/
 
* Disabled Kenyan Gertrude Musuvure Inimah works on inclusion in education for deaf and disabled children, using her newly-minted PhD: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/01/13/disability-cancer-didnt-stop-me-from-earning-my-phd_c1274224
 
* A Salon article takes issue with Star Wars character Kylo Ren and the implications for how our country thinks about mentally ill people and violence at schools and colleges: http://www.salon.com/2016/01/12/we_need_to_talk_about_ben_kylo_ren_star_wars_and_the_media_narrative_of_the_mentally_ill_school_shooter/
 
* Rush University medical student Muhammad Ullah explains how the ADA opened possibilities for him as an emigrant with a disability (video is captioned but does not have audio description): https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/video-library/ada-stories-muhammad-ullah
 
* Former football coach Steve Sarkisian has sued USC for wrongful termination and disability discrimination, but a new USC counter-suit claims he is violating the arbitration agreement with the university for termination based on his alcoholism: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14531692/usc-trojans-call-steve-sarkisian-claims-half-truths-falsehoods
 
* The job market is improving slightly, but only for nondisabled people (http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/01/08/800573/10159007/en/nTIDE-Jobs-Report-To-Close-2015-Struggles-Continue-for-Americans-with-Disabilities-Trying-to-Enter-Workforce.html), although a new report shows that people with a college education are less likely to cite disability or illness as a reason for not working (http://cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/bls-less-educated-people-more-likely-claim-illness-or-disability-reason-not)
 
* California State University East Bay is spreading the word about “invisible disabilities” on campus, and that people who have them may not look “disabled” to peers and faculty: http://thepioneeronline.com/28966/campus/not-all-disabilities-are-visible/
 
* Alexis Boutin at Sonoma State University studies disability…in people who died thousands of years ago: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2016/01/12/young-woman-with-disabilities-found-in-artifact-packed-bronze-age-burial/#2715e4857a0b4f0be08e2bba
 
* Disability studies professor Steve Kuusisto at Syracuse University uses his blog to point out that complaints about the ADA’s “unfunded mandates” in higher education are misleading – everything at a university is funded or it wouldn’t exist: http://stephenkuusisto.com/2016/01/14/college-george-orwell-and-the-ada/
 
And a few related items of possible interest to college students:
 
* A friendly reminder that January 31 is the open enrollment deadline for health insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (remember that younger college students may be covered under their parents’ plans, so check out your options): www.HealthCare.gov
 
* Why would someone “self-diagnose” autism, and is it “Special Snowflake Syndrome” or a reflection of our society and access? http://nosmag.org/autism-self-diagnosis-is-not-special-snowflake-syndrome/
 
* A new proposed federal Disability Integration Act would allow people with disabilities to decide whether they get services at home or in an institution, guaranteeing community living as an option: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/01/12/bill-expand-community-living/21763/
 
* Artist David Bowie died from cancer this week at age 69, but did you know he had fans among disability activists, and experiences with psychosis and schizophrenia in his family?  Here’s a few people paying tribute from a disability orientation:

• Karin Willison: http://www.twothirdsoftheplanet.com/david-bowie-disability/
• Allie Kriofske Mainella: https://www.independencefirst.org/independent-thoughts/january-2016/rest-in-peace,-david-bowie
• Tom Stafford and Matt Webb: http://mindhacks.com/2016/01/13/where-are-we-now-david-bowie-and-psychosis/

 
* Did you make a new year’s resolution to lose weight? Be healthier?  Check out Alejandra Ospina’s thoughts about being healthy, losing weight with online tools, and still holding on to disability pride and self-acceptance as a woman with cerebral palsy: http://momentumblog.bcm.edu/2016/01/13/finding-the-right-online-tools-to-reach-your-weight-loss-goals/
 
* As “Spring Awakening” closes on Broadway, star Marlee Matlin writes an open letter to Broadway asking for better access for Deaf and hard of hearing patrons: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/exclusive-an-open-letter-to-broadway-from-marlee-matlin-378455
 
* Minnesota has set up a peer support program for Deaf people who have mental and emotional health needs: https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2016/01/alison-aubrecht-peer-support-program-takes-deaf-centric-approach-men
 
* Netflix’s “Make a Murderer” may be the latest thing to binge watch, but one Rolling Stone reporter says that what it reveals about the justice system and people with intellectual disabilities is troubling: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/what-making-a-murderer-reveals-about-the-justice-system-and-intellectual-disability-20160111
 
* Do you need help paying for vision care?  Here’s a list of national organizations that can offer low-cost or free services, or assistance with costs: http://www.preventblindness.org/sites/default/files/national/documents/fact_sheets/Financial_Assistance_IC03%28updated11-14%29_0.pdf
 
* Deaf rapping is spreading to the UK – catch the beat with the BBC (video has captions but no audio description): http://www.bbc.com/news/disability-35234082
 
* Get a new computer or iPhone over the holidays?  The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), and the FCC’s Accessibility Clearinghouse are all offering some tips for users who want to find all the accessibility features:

• AFB’s guide is at http://www.visionaware.org/community/announcements/introducing-the-afb-accessible-computers-and-phone-primers/12
• NARIC’s tips are at https://naricspotlight.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/theres-an-app-for-that/
• FCC’s clearinghouse: www.fcc.gov/accessibilityclearinghouse

 
* Several states re-designed state tests to help students with disabilities, who quickly realized the tests were actually less accessible after the changes: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/01/12/special-ed-testing-backfire/21760/
 
* Melissa Stolz weighs in on the recent debates between parents and people with disabilities around postings at The Mighty and who speaks with (or for) people with disabilities: http://www.collegesteps.org/#!faq-for-high-schools/c120j
 
* PowerPoints are everywhere in higher education, but how do you make them accessible?  Microsoft offers some tips: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Creating-accessible-PowerPoint-presentations-6f7772b2-2f33-4bd2-8ca7-dae3b2b3ef25
 
* Only 68% of Chicago’s train stations meet ADA requirements, so the city has a plan to make everything accessible…in 20 years: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cta-accessibility-program-met-20160106-story.html
 
* Diabetes guidelines may need to be different for Asians and South Asian people, who can appear slimmer than Western Caucasians, but actually be at higher risk: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35280028
 
 
 
 
This week’s issue of the DREAM weekly e-mail is available at the DREAM website, with archived back issues available, as well (http://www.dreamcollegedisability.org).  For more information about DREAM or AHEAD contact Wendy Harbour ([email protected]).
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please go to http://ahead-listserve.org/mailman/listinfo/dream_ahead-listserve.org.  Wendy Harbour can also handle requests to subscribe or unsubscribe. 
By the way, please don't presume DREAM or AHEAD agree with everything in these links we send out - we're just passing along the information so you can form your own opinions.  Thanks.