DREAM Weekly: April 22-28, 2018

DREAM Weekly on Disability and Higher Education in the News: April 22-28, 2018

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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Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):
 
* America ReFramed: Deej, a film about a nonspeaking autistic man and his life at Oberlin College, has won a Peabody award: https://news.uga.edu/nine-documentaries-selected-for-the-peabody-30/
 
* Syracuse University continues to deal with videos of the Theta Tau fraternity:

• A second Theta Tau video surfaced at Syracuse University, miming an assault of a person with disabilities (warning – video and descriptions of video are graphic) (news segment is captioned but not audio described): http://cnycentral.com/news/local/more-speak-out-following-theta-tau-videos
• The Daily Orange Syracuse University newspaper highlighted the work of Disability Cultural Center director Diane Wiener, who says “Inclusion is not enough” in her intersectional work (http://dailyorange.com/2018/04/diane-wiener-center-director-creating-intersectional-inclusive-environment-su/); Wiener also wrote a column addressing the offensive Theta Tau video and urging collaborative work to address ableism and all forms of oppression (https://news.syr.edu/2018/04/diane-wiener-director-of-the-disability-cultural-center-addresses-offensive-fraternity-video/)
• The Chancellor warns there may be additional videos, but they should not be released as they are considered “evidence in an ongoing potential criminal and judicial investigation:” http://dailyorange.com/2018/04/syverud-responds-d-o-s-publication-second-theta-tau-video/

 
* Imperial College London has a Calibre program for staff with disabilities, to build their leadership skills, teach them about disability in the workplace, and build confidence with requesting and using accommodations: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/185897/staff-share-experiences-working-with-disability/
 
* Ontario’s autism community is reminding people that autism is not associated with violence, after Seneca College student Alek Minassian killed 10 people by driving a truck through a Toronto shopping area and the media reported he had Asperger’s: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/04/24/autism-not-associated-with-violence-advocates-say.html
 
* There are no disabled muggles at the University of Southern Mississippi – they’ve created an inclusive Quidditch game for students and community members: http://news.usm.edu/article/usm-institute-disability-studies-launches-inclusive-quidditch-game
 
 
* A new national group, Project LETS, is working to set up peer advocates and support for students who have mental health needs, including help with the “full-time job” of navigating accommodations and services: https://www.thenation.com/article/mental-health-care-on-college-campuses-is-broken-this-group-aims-to-change-that/
 
* Medical schools need to do more to improve access and inclusion of students and doctors with disabilities, says a new report from the Association of American Medical Colleges: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/04/24/for-aspiring-doctors-med-schools/25009/
 
* Bella the dog is on her way to becoming a guide dog for the blind; she and two other puppies spent one year living in dorms with students at Rochester College, getting ready for formal training: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20180424/rochester-college-student-and-puppy-complete-leader-dogs-for-the-blind-program 
 
* The landmark first case for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a college football player is going to trial, with the widow of Greg Ploetz arguing the NCAA is legally responsible for Ploetz’s death: https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/04/26/greg-ploetz-ncaa-cte-concussion-lawsuit
 
* With Congress reauthorizing the Higher Education Act soon, 48 civil rights and education groups have recommended civil rights principles be included in the law, including rights of people with disabilities: https://civilrights.org/48-groups-introduce-civil-rights-principles-higher-education-act-reauthorization/
 
* PBS NewsHour did a feature on Syracuse University professor and poet Steve Kuusisto, an how working with a guide dog affected his work, writing, and life (video is captioned with a transcript, but not audio described): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/this-poets-guide-dog-helped-him-discover-a-new-world
 
* Matthew Senn, who has Asperger’s, published the graphic novel Quiet: A Graphic Novel of Introversion, about a college student named Claire who has difficulty making friends in her first semester: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/matthew-senn-new-graphic-novel-quiet-1.4627480
 
* Friends told blind Bethel University student Hannah Harriman she was “worthless without a miracle” of sight and her mom still struggles with Hannah being Christian and not being healed, but over time Hannah has decided perhaps God wants her the way she is: https://bethelclarion.com/2018/04/25/041918-hannah/
  
* An in-depth article in the Yale newspaper looks into the narrative of Yale as a “happy school,” and how pressure to be happy may be affecting the mental health of students: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/04/20/the-happy-school/
 
* Northern Virginia Community College is expanding its College Steps program, which not only serves students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but also works with enrolled students with disabilities who would benefit from extra services and peer supports: http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/business_ap/program-to-assist-virginia-students-with-disabilities-expands/article_d67aa8cf-79d6-51a7-a3d6-ffc73e2e2be2.html
 
* Students at Winona State University are protesting to bring attention to the location of Access Services on third floor of an administrative building, saying it’s an “unnecessary challenge” to get there (video is captioned but not audio described): http://www.wxow.com/story/38054096/2018/04/Thursday/winona-state-students-call-for-change-in-disability-services-on-campus
 
* Students with disabilities have re-launched the Alliance for Disability Awareness student organization at Iowa State University: http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_d77743e0-4837-11e8-8120-573ac10e4e58.html
                        
* Irish academic and fashion writer Sinéad Burke is a little person who writes about inclusive fashion and design, including her desire for luxury brands to not segregate people with disabilities: https://www.glamour.com/story/sinead-burke-why-the-fashion-industry-needs-to-do-more-disabled-customers
 
* After years of advocacy work by students and alumni, Princeton now has an Asian American studies certificate in American studies, and the campus is thinking disability studies and Native American studies may be coming soon: https://paw.princeton.edu/article/long-time-coming
 
* A 19-year old autistic freshman at Hilbert College was charged with making threats against the college and having a weapon, but now he’s speaking out and saying it’s a case of rumors and misunderstandings by police (video is captioned but not audio described): http://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/only-on-4-student-accused-of-making-threats-at-hilbert-college-speaks-out/1132098769
 
* Professor Carol Britton Laws was featured in a University of Georgia newspaper interview, discussing her work setting up UGA’s “Destination Dawgs” program for youth with intellectual disabilities: https://news.uga.edu/carol-britton-laws/
                                                                                        
* A poll at Brown University found that 23% of students had received psychiatric medications over the past five years, usually for anxiety or depression: http://www.browndailyherald.com/2018/04/26/23-percent-students-prescribed-mental-health-medication/
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* Students are limited to 10 sessions at the University of Georgia’s counseling center, and then they must find services off campus, but a new op-ed says this may be harmful to students and force them out of therapy before they’re ready: https://www.redandblack.com/opinion/opinion-the-caps-session-limit-at-uga-is-harmful/article_cdd6a23c-48a4-11e8-849f-8366213fb603.html
 
* The Disability Support Services office at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is changing its name to ACCESS “to talk more about what we do versus the limited aspects and the taboo or othering terminology:” http://www.alestlelive.com/news/article_39c9be88-490a-11e8-a5ef-0b09f3480a5c.html
 
* A former softball player at Newbury College in Massachusetts is suing the campus, alleging the coach kicked her off the team because she is deaf: https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/deaf-softball-pitcher-kicked-newbury-college-team-sues
 
* Penn State has created a “Performing Together” arts course for university students and young adult students from the community who have intellectual disabilities, including a resource guide for other campuses that would like to replicate their work: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_98814330-4674-11e8-94e0-1f22594c82b2.html
 
* Yale went from 1 emotional support animal last year to 14 this year, and that number is expected to increase: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/04/26/emotional-support-animals-proliferate-at-yale/
 
* A student at Binghamton University in New York is questioning why students have to jump through so many hoops to get disability accommodation letters to professors, asking the disability services office to make the process easier: https://www.bupipedream.com/opinions/94364/services-for-students-with-disabilities-must-do-more-to-accommodate-students-with-disabilities/
 
* The former associate athletic director of human resources, Kimberly Maffet, is suing the University of Louisville for allegedly terminating her because of her disabilities: https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2018/04/25/fired-u-of-l-athletics-employee-claims.html
 
* Bowdoin College is hiring two full-time employees to provide disability services and will also set up a testing center in the library for students who need accommodations on exams: https://bowdoinorient.com/2018/04/27/college-to-open-testing-center-for-accommodations/
 
* Eric S. Smith, a student at Landmark College, was arrested for making a “criminal threat” against the campus: http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/student-accused-of-making-threat-against-college/article_08c1daff-a886-5061-9ffa-d258755f4898.html
 
* Adelphi University has set up a quiet “sensory room” and employment options for autistic students in the Bridges to Adelphi program: https://longislandreport.org/news/adelphi-university-creates-opportunity-for-students-with-autism/26281
 
* Oakton Community College has settled a disability discrimination suit, including a payout and accommodations for the employee, who has agreed to retire in two years: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-oakton-eeoc-settlement-tl-0503-story.html  
 
 
And a few related items of possible interest to college students:
 
* A Quiet Place, a new horror film, exemplifies “Deaf Gain” instead of “hearing loss,” compared with other movies like The Shape of Water that follow outdated views on deafness, sign language, and disability; disability and Deaf studies professor Lennard Davis offers a review: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/quiet-places/#!
 
* Shaquem Griffin is the first NFL player with an amputation – his journey to pro football was a long road for him and his twin brother, who is also about to become an NFL athlete: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/while-shaquem-griffin-took-on-football-with-one-hand-his-twin-brother-always-had-his-back/2018/04/19/2ff5bf98-431e-11e8-bba2-0976a82b05a2_story.html?utm_term=.d2451c9c6904
 
* Canada and the UK are planning to ban plastic straws, but people with disabilities are speaking out about their needs for straws as much more than a convenience: https://www.thestar.com/life/2018/04/23/anti-straw-movement-isnt-considering-people-with-disabilities-advocates-say.html
 
* A new video by Respectability looks at diversity among people with disabilities in terms of race, ethnicity, class, LGBTQ status, age, gender and more; the videos are designed to encourage inclusive philanthropy (video is captioned but not audio described): http://www.respectability.org/inclusive-philanthropy/
 
* During a ceremony honoring Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the 2018 Winter Games, President Trump said the Paralympics were “a little tough to watch:” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-paralympics-was-tough-to-watch
 
* Roxane Gay became famous for her writing about feminism and fatness, but after deciding to get weight reduction surgery, she writes about her journey and what it means to be “full”: https://medium.com/s/unrulybodies/the-body-that-understands-what-fullness-is-f2e40c40cd75
 
* International DJ and Grammy-nominated star Avicii was found dead at age 28 from causes unknown; he retired two years ago due to health issues and severe anxiety: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/21/entertainment/avicii-dj-struggle-with-fame/index.html
 
* “Britain’s Got Talent” included nonspeaking comedian Lee Ridley wearing a t-shirt with the disability symbol and the caption “I’m only in it for the parking” (video captioned but not audio described): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yat1VZzW9FI
 
* When an undocumented mother brought her disabled child (a U.S. citizen) to the hospital, border patrol agents followed the ambulance and detailed the mother: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Border-Patrol-detained-then-released-12839131.php
 
* Mexico has banned the new Frida Kahlo Barbie doll, saying the family own all the rights to her image and Mattel used it without permission: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-43845069
 
* Black people don’t have to “inherit” or buy into previous generations’ beliefs and ableism, says blogger Imani Barbarin: https://crutchesandspice.com/2018/04/24/black-people-dont-have-to-inherit-their-ableism/
 
* It’s not easy having dwarfism in 2018 – and Tyrion Lannister doesn’t make up for years of dwarfism being represented as a problem: https://www.shortlist.com/news/opinion/verne-troyer-prejudice-dwarf-media/354412
 
* When Weight Watchers offered free memberships to teens, anorexia survivor Melainie Rogers started the #wakeupweightwatchers campaign, noting that most eating disorders in teens start with dieting: https://www.forbes.com/sites/meganbruneau/2018/04/20/this-founder-once-battled-anorexia-now-shes-calling-out-weight-watchers-and-helping-others/#2b6916a96fb4
 
* Gun debates rage across the U.S., and Texan activists are working to be sure people with disabilities are part of the discussion, regardless of how they feel about the issues: https://khn.org/news/texas-disability-groups-want-a-voice-at-the-table-in-gun-debate/
 
* Philip J. Wolfe is deaf and he’s running for Portland City Council, while needing to fight for access to campaign events: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/2028687597162720/
 
* In Florida, a judge has been removed from her job after berating a woman in court while she was having trouble breathing; the woman died two days later (video captioned but not audio described): https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/23/us/woman-dies-after-judge-berates-her-trnd/index.html
 
* Did you know physical therapy has its roots in China and India, thousands of years ago?  Here’s a brief history of the field: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Physiotherapy-History.aspx
 
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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]).
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By the way, please don't presume DREAM, the National Center for College Students with Disabilities, 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.