DREAM Weekly: April 21-27, 2019

DREAM Weekly on Disability and Higher Education in the News: April 21-27, 2019

From DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring
 
Sponsored by the National Center for College Students with Disabilities and the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
 
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Just a reminder: the DREAM Weekly Email just has highlights from the news – to access the full version:

• Read the attached Word document (with active links)
• Visit our visual and graphic-based version of the news at http://www.nccsdonline.org/news.html
• Read the news online with searchable archives at https://www.dreamcollegedisability.org/this-weeks-news-in-disability-and-higher-education

 
Having trouble accessing an article?  Check with your campus library or reach out to us ([email protected]).
 
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Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):
 
* Students with intellectual disabilities at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs are protesting policies that prevent them from walking with other students at commencement, and they’ve gathered 6,000 signatures on their petition: https://gazette.com/education/intellectually-disabled-students-petitioning-uccs-for-full-inclusion-in-graduation/article_c941fbda-679e-11e9-a5a5-b7cbed2127c6.html
 
* Students worked with faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine to create a calm room at the University of Alberta, and it “normalizes mental health self-care” while helping with exam stress, anxiety, and relaxation: https://www.ualberta.ca/rehabilitation/news/2019/april/university-of-albertas-first-calm-room-is-just-what-students-need
 
* Qobo Ningiza spent a year looking for a university that would accept him, but now he will be South Africa’s first deaf law school graduate: https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2019-04-04-sas-first-deaf-law-graduate
 
* A new research study says there is an “epidemic” of anxiety on college campuses, with financial difficulties and digital devices looking like two of the reasons for the increase: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Rising-anxiety-on-campuses-linked-to-finances-13781698.php
 
* More than 200 students and employees at ULCA and California State University LA have been quarantined after being exposed to measles during an outbreak in Los Angeles: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/ucla-measles-los-angeles.html
 
* After a free speech controversy at Williams College, students formed the Coalition Against Racist Education Now (CARE Now), which just published an open letter with demands to improve inclusion of all kinds, including an expansion of disability services, better health care, increased recruitment of people with disabilities, an expansion of “affinity spaces,” and more disability services courses and teaching fellowships: https://williamsrecord.com/2019/04/an-open-letter-to-the-office-of-the-president/
 
* The University of Chicago hosted Break the Silence, a two-day conference about Asian and Asian-American mental health, with a focus on college students: https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2019/4/23/break-silence-conference-talks-mental-health-among/
 
* Deaf RIT student activist Anderson Pleasants created a name sign for polyglot Pete Buttigieg, who is running for the Democratic Presidential nomination, and he was surprised when the candidate responded – in American Sign Language (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOXU_4cRtrI
 
* An article in the Tulane student newspaper says some athletes with learning disabilities are pressured to not use accommodations or testing they need, with one former player even saying accommodations are just for the “laziness of college athletes”: https://tulanehullabaloo.com/47500/sports/student-athletes-with-learning-accommodations-at-risk-for-differential-treatment/
 
* This year’s Take Back the Night annual rally and march at the University of Oregon will focus on disability justice: https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/annual-take-back-the-night-rally-to-honor-voices-of/article_4e66e04c-6573-11e9-b297-5b1e5b251707.html
 
* Zoë Luh, a student of color with a disability, writes about the many ways Oberlin College wasn’t accessible or able to deal with the intersections of her identities, despite being a “socially conscious school”: https://oberlinreview.org/18575/opinions/inadequate-facilities-unsafe-inaccessible-for-disabled-students/
 
* Meet Megan Conway in this in-depth profile that talks about her journey to becoming a deafblind professor at the University of Hawai’i: https://nexttribe.com/deafblind-activist/
 
* Kenny Fries writes about how we can work to make things better for immigrants with disabilities, including professors and post-docs who can’t get visas because they have disabilities: https://qz.com/1600200/why-disabled-immigrants-are-one-of-the-most-invisible-populations/
 
* Governors State University and 24 other campuses across the state of Illinois have formed an “Illinois Equity in Attainment Initative” to reduce achievement gaps in higher education, and students with disabilities are one of the target groups: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-knowles-column-st-0423-story.html
 
* Jennifer Mankoff is a professor at the University of Washington, and she has been dealing with a chronic illness since graduate school, but support of family and colleagues has helped (interview is audio, with a transcript in the article): http://www.changingacademiclife.com/blog/2019/4/23/jen-mankoff
 
* Marshall University in West Virginia has set up a website for anyone on campus to submit complaints or concerns they have about access on campus: https://marshallparthenon.com/20846/news/university-website-to-request-community-feedback-on-campus-disability-services/
 
* Univeriti Malaya in Malaysia is working to make its campus and instruction more accessible for students, using a rights-based model instead of operating as a charity-oriented program, while also working with the Asean University Network Disability and Public Policy (AUN DPPnet): https://www.nst.com.my/education/2019/04/482525/inclusive-campuses-enabling-disabled-pursue-studies-highest-level
 
* The Ontario government’s Student Choice Initiative continues to get criticism, with the latest coming from an open letter written by students with disabilities, demanding assurances that disability services and programs will not be cut: https://www.neads.ca/en/about/media/index.php?id=772
 
* Canadian Kevin Szol is an instructor at College of the Rockies, and he is talking openly about his ADHD and depression, and being diagnosed at the age of 55: https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/coping-with-depression-college-instructor-aims-to-help-others/
 
* Eastern Illinois University has set up a STEP program through the Office of Student Disability Services, to help students with autism transition into college, with individualized supports, social activities with peer mentors, support groups, and lessons in independent living skills: https://www.dailyeasternnews.com/2019/04/22/program-helps-students-with-autism-adjust-to-college-life/
 
* In the wake of the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal, one psychotherapist talks about parents begging her to help their children get into college with medications or ADHD and LD diagnoses; she notes that telling parents to “just relax” and not worry doesn’t help change the system creating the pressure: https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/other_views/commentary-no-parents-can-t-just-relax-about-college/article_a5d78081-bfc7-53dd-a677-9b403828385c.html
 
* Professor Elizabeth Donahue at the New York Institute of Technology studies how mental illness is portrayed in comics and graphic novels: https://www.thehofstrachronicle.com/category/news/comics-donaldson
 
* Stanford University students Zack Burton and Elisa Hofmeister created a play called “The Manic Monologues” to share stories of people living with mental illness, after experiencing it themselves and realizing how many people were ashamed to talk about mental health: https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/04/24/the-manic-monologues-puts-a-spotlight-on-mental-illness
 
* Six female disabled scholars and psychologist wrote an article for Rehabilitation Psychology about the #SaytheWord movement, suggesting use of the term disability instead of “handi-capable” and other euphemism : https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2019/04/23/disability-is-not-a-dirty-word-handi-capable-should-be-retired/
 
* Meet University of Cincinnati student Enna Selmanovic, the winner of the JED Foundation’s Student Voice of Mental Health Award, and advocate for student-athlete mental health: https://www.jedfoundation.org/2019-jed-student-voice-of-mental-health-award-honoree-enna-selmanovic/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=An%20avid%20voice%20for%20mental%20health&utm_content=An%20avid%20voice%20for%20mental%20health+CID_b976ddd0c543269489bf4cc5ac4e8c10&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=LEARN%20MORE%20ABOUT%20ENNA%20HERE
 
* Professor Sari Altshuler at Northeastern has been awarded a fellowship at Wellesley College to work on her book about disability and citizenship in the early U.S., and how disability influenced the development of the country: https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/04/23/northeastern-university-professor-sari-altschuler-wins-wellesley-fellowship-to-study-disability-in-the-early-united-states/
 
* The University of Denver made SAT and ACT test scores an optional part of admissions applications, specifically noting that the tests and grades are not good indications of whether students with disabilities will do well in higher education: https://duclarion.com/2019/04/dus-new-test-optional-policy-will-strengthen-the-student-body/
 
* A Business Insider reporter suggested that Haben Girma had “grit” because she is a black, blind, and deaf graduate of Harvard Law School, and that didn’t go over very well (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.businessinsider.sg/deaf-blind-harvard-law-haben-girma/
 
* Austin Community College’s ACCess Autism student group (https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/acc-students-with-autism-start-support-club-for-students-on-spectrum/1949414069 and Sonoma State University’s Autism Club (http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/2019/4/23/student-starts-autism-club-at-ssu) are both hoping to give autistic students more support and community, while also providing information and resources to their campuses.
 
* Kal Warrington Silvert got a college degree but couldn’t look for a job, because he had to give up his in-home aides if he worked; now legislators in Hawai’i are pushing forward a bill called “Kal’s Law” to help working people with disabilities keep their benefits (news clip is captioned but not audio described):  http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/04/23/kals-law-would-help-disabled-individuals-with-jobs-keep-their-medicaid-benefits/
 
* In the debate about electronics in the classroom, there needs to be an understanding of accessibility needs of students with disabilities: https://theithacan.org/opinion/editorial-higher-ed-tech-debate-asks-the-wrong-questions/
 
* In Nigeria, students at the University of Ibadon participated in a Disability Hackathon to share ideas to address technological needs of people with disabilities: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/04/23/support-for-tech-driven-solutions-to-disabilities/
 
* Students with autism are supposedly very picky eaters, but Joe Banchik is becoming a chef through the College Internship Program Bloomington in Indiana, and he’s known for experimenting with new foods: https://www.idsnews.com/article/2019/04/learning-to-trust-himself-cook-with-autism-works-toward-independence
 
* A student at the University of Texas at Austin calls for the disability resource office on campus to set up a physical space within its office for students to build community: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2019/04/24/students-with-disabilities-deserve-a-physical-space-on-campus
 
* Students at Western Kentucky University share some stories about how they decided to take medication for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions: https://wkuherald.com/news/stuck-below-medicine-often-the-solution-for-struggling-students/article_1cd61d2c-656e-11e9-94c8-2b9dd4ee3b6c.html
 
* Dez Del Barba took time off at Sonoma State University to attend Army basic training, and while there he became sick, but was given ibuprofen and told to keep going; he had necrotizing fasciitis and has now had 19 surgeries, including an amputation: https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/A-college-student-was-training-for-the-Army-when-13788683.php
 
* Bookshare creates accessible texts, but now they’re re-focusing efforts on having publishers make books accessible when they’re published, and they’ve set up an accreditation process to help it happen, although they note, “We have yet to see a book from a publisher that is perfect the first time”: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-04-22-benetech-macmillan-pioneer-effort-to-make-all-digital-books-born-accessible
 
 
 
A Few Other Items of Possible Interest:
 
* Greta Thunberg, the 16-year old autistic climate change activist from Sweden, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47568227
 
* Society expects that everyone with a disability “will be the next Stephen Hawking,” and that’s a lot of pressure: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pressure-extraordinary-live-disability-221453452.html
 
* If a service dog in a cape approaches you without their owner, they’re trying to get your help: https://www.scarymommy.com/what-to-do-service-dog-without-owner/
 
* Great Britain’s Paralympic team was surprised and angry after Yokohama hotels demanded the team pay to make rooms accessible, and then also pay to convert them back to the way they were, raising doubts about Japan’s ability to host the 2020 Paralympics: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/24/paralympics-gb-stunned-after-yokohama-hotels-demand-payment-for-accessibility
 
* More companies are offering online mental health therapy, so what are the pros and cons? https://observer.com/2019/04/digital-cbt-rise-learn-to-live-big-health-mystrehttps://marshallparthenon.com/20846/news/university-website-to-request-community-feedback-on-campus-disability-services/ngth/
 
* Meghan Markle is doing her pregnancy and birth on her terms, and some pregnant women with chronic illnesses are getting inspiration to stand up to their doctor for what they need, too: https://www.healthcentral.com/article/meghan-markles-pregnancy-lessons-for-pregnant-women-with-chronic-illness
 
* “You’ve lost so much weight!” seems like a compliment, but you never really know what caused someone’s weight loss, and it could be a chronic illness: https://www.yourtango.com/2019323670/body-positivity-when-someone-with-a-chronic-disease-or-illness-is-losing-weight
 
* A South African TV host and Kenyan activist talk about living with cerebral palsy (video is not captioned or audio described): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggJMkQDAsLw
 
* Deaf Native American James Woodenlegs from the North Cheyenne tribe, shares Native American stories and traditions (video is captioned for non-signers, but not audio described): https://www.facebook.com/SorensonVRS/videos/2685525181464011/
 
* A mayor in Australia suggested people with disabilities be called “Access Inclusion Seekers,” suggesting “the D-word” is as offensive as the “N-word,” thus offending disabled people and African-Americans (and disabled African-Americans) in one swoop: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mayor-proposes-bizarre-phrase-replace-184443824.html
 
* Read about three lawyers who say their autism can create difficulties in their work, but can also help them do some things better: http://www.abajournal.com/web/article/for-lawyers-with-autism-the-work-often-pairs-up-with-things-they-do-well
 
* Two articles discussed different aspects of media representation for people with disabilities:

• Bustle asked disability activists how to do disability representation in the media, and here’s what they said: https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-get-disability-representation-in-tv-movies-right-according-to-the-people-doing-it-17129242
• There was a “Representing Disability in Storytelling” panel in North Hollywood featuring stars of Breaking Bad, Grey’s Anatomy, and Born This Way: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daryl-chill-mitchell-rj-mitte-urge-more-disability-representation-1204652

 
* Riverdale star Camila Mendes is being open about her struggles with bulimia, getting help form therapists and others struggling with eating disorders, and moving forward: https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/camila-mendes-reflects-on-past-struggles-with-bulimia-and-dieting/
 
*  Imagine having to get a divorce from the person you loved, just to keep your health benefits; that’s the reality for many people with disabilities getting Medicaid: https://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/forced-to-divorce-americans-with-disabilities-must-choose-marriage-or-health-care/92284
 
* Until 1996, the Japanese government forcibly sterilized 25,000 people with a variety of disabilities, and now the government has apologized and is offering compensation: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/world/asia/japan-sterilization-eugenics-compensation.html
 
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DREAM and the NCCSD are funded by a grant to AHEAD from the U.S. Department of Education (P116D150005).