DREAM Weekly: February 11-17, 2018

DREAM Weekly on Disability and Higher Education in the News: February 11-17, 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):
 
* Is it possible for 86% of college students to be happy with disability services staff, while still experiencing major problems?  That’s the situation at the University of Cambridge, where the student newspaper did an investigation and found good professionals burdened by inadequate resources while students suffered the consequences: https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/14814
 
* “You@IVCC” is a new free anonymous online tool at Illinois Valley Community College that can help students, faculty, and staff manage stress, and find campus and community mental health resources: http://www.newstrib.com/free/ivcc-provides-resource-to-help-with-mental-health/article_4dea1784-1271-11e8-a5e6-ff66000f85a4.html
 
* Celebrate Valentine’s Day with John and Marissa, who have Down syndrome – John is a busy college student, but they both find time to dance and enjoy love (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.facebook.com/LoveStoryCNN/videos/143843409541851/
 
* Statistics may be a easier and more fun thanks to “Passage to Hunza,” a  Pokemon-like virtual reality adventure game designed to teach statistics to people with learning disabilities, developed by students at Landmark College: https://www.educationdive.com/news/landmark-college-students-create-virtual-reality-game-for-statistics/516916/
 
* National Black Deaf Advocates (@NBDAdvocates) is highlighting Black Deaf people this month, including Dr. Glenn Anderson, the first Black Deaf person to get a PhD (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Uw9jfJ-78
 
* The newspaper at the College of William and Mary continues its series on former professor David Dessler’s medical leave for depression, five arrests, 77 days in jail, and official resignation, that allegedly show campus-wide problems with mental health issues, and a pattern of harassment after Dessler tried to create a student-faculty mental health initiative in 2015 (also available as a podcast, with links in the article): http://flathatnews.com/2018/02/12/unconscionable-incarceration-for-presumed-mental-illness-discovering-david-dessler/
 
* Everyone celebrated the love at Erie’s inclusive Valentine’s Day Extravaganza celebrating disability culture, planned by Penn State Behrend special education professor Karen Rizzo and first-year student Morgan Yelverton, who had done three similar events at her high school: http://news.psu.edu/story/505089/2018/02/13/academics/%E2%80%98extravaganza%E2%80%99-ensures-all-feel-love-valentine%E2%80%99s-day
 
* Brown University created a “Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan,” and as they implement it, classroom buildings are becoming more accessible, departments have access and inclusion checklists, and the campus is hiring disability studies scholars: http://www.browndailyherald.com/2018/02/15/university-addresses-student-accessibility-concerns/
 
* Australia’s oldest university becomes more inclusive, with the Uni 2 Beyond program making the campus accessible to people with intellectual disabilities: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/university-and-beyond-for-adults-with-an-intellectual-disability/9416562
 
* Montreal literature professor Samuel Archibald was denied disability insurance after taking a medical leave for major depression, with the insurance company saying an interview and use of social media were proof he could work: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/i-felt-bullied-and-harassed-a-montrealer-s-fight-to-get-insurer-to-recognize-his-depression-1.4537017
 
* A petition is asking for Parran Hall at the University of Pittsburgh to be renamed, since Dr. Thomas Parran Jr. was responsible for the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments on African American men in Alabama: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/2018/02/14/University-of-Pittsburgh-Tuskegee-Experiments-race-medical-experiment-colleges-higher-education/stories/201802140166?elqTrackId=f30e5d69caeb468ba82919c77656eb02&elq=5af5061d1ed94027a36c2a845eb89190&elqaid=17873&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7911
 
* Irish undergrad, filmmaker and blogger Alannah Murray says people with disabilities need “less pedestals more platforms”: https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/297299/less-pedestals-more-platforms-dundalk-it-student-alannah-challenges-perspectives-on-disability.html
 
* After collapsing on the job and needing a medical leave, professor Katerina Bodovski realized she was one of many faculty members who had became a “silent workaholic,” able to help everyone but herself: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-I-Collapsed-on-the-Job/242537?cid=db&elqTrackId=c51c7121170c43108036249568b31ba6&elq=5af5061d1ed94027a36c2a845eb89190&elqaid=17873&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7911
 
* Michigan State University fired the dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, as the campus continues to deal with the fallout related to doctor and faculty member Larry Nassar, convicted of sexually abusing multiple women and girls during their medical treatments: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Michigan-State-Moves-to-Fire/242510/?cid=db&elqTrackId=4e5d321c33ed4ab39fd1286d4e850dc9&elq=ceb70faac5df4be789f6d98d7e9c3f6f&elqaid=17797&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7863
 
* Students at the College of DuPage worry about what changes to the ADA, SSDI, and Medicaid will mean for them: https://codcourier.org/7918/news/potential-cuts-to-federal-assistance-programs-could-have-major-impacts-to-cod-students-with-disabilities/
 
* Be careful interpreting alarming numbers about college students and mental health, says Canadian psychology professor Connie Korpan – it means sadness and depression are something that “all of us go through from time to time”: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2018/02/11/parents-should-interpret-mental-health-survey-with-caution-gprc-prof
 
* Paraplegic Kevin McMillan is a celebrated Grammy-award winning baritone who recently joined the faculty of James Madison University: http://www.breezejmu.org/culture/jmu-professor-wins-grammy-inspires-college-musicians/article_7662d906-119c-11e8-af08-7bf3328e6116.html
 
* As flu season hits, campuses may turn to technology to help handle missed classes: http://dailycampus.com/stories/2018/2/13/how-students-and-faculty-handle-seasonal-illness
 
* The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “ADA Education and Reform Act,” which would prohibit people from filing lawsuits until they’ve given businesses (including colleges) advanced notice of their intent to sue; the bill now goes to the Senate: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/374034-house-votes-to-add-requirements-for-americans-with-disabilities-act  
 
* Many colleges have very different policies for service animals versus emotional support animals, and they’re in the news this week:

• Policies are under scrutiny at Marist College: https://www.maristcircle.com/features/2018/2/15/looking-into-marists-service-animal-policy
• Students at the University of New Haven wonder if dogs are just generally more accepted than other animals: https://chargerbulletin.com/emotional-support-animals-positive-impact-students/

 
* Because her son has a disability, University of Ontario Institute of Technology professor Karolina Krystyniak and her family have been denied applications for permanent visas and are protesting Canada’s immigration policies (video is not captioned or audio described): https://globalnews.ca/news/4027378/mother-fears-discrimination-canada-disability-excessive-demand/
 
* Noticing the interest in transgender people’s use of public restrooms, the University of Michigan Taubman hosted a symposium called “Stalled!” about inclusive restroom design based on gender and disability: http://www.secondwavemedia.com/concentrate/innovationnews/stalledconference0444.aspx
 
* A new Institute for Learning Differences at Thomas More College is helping students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other “learning differences” get social and academic supports, funded by a fee that is currently covered through grants (video is captioned but does not have audio description): https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/kenton-county/crestview-hills/thomas-more-college-provides-comprehensive-services-for-students-with-learning-differences
 
* Proving it’s never too late to learn about disability, meet John Colquhoun, a 74-year old retired lawyer who completed a degree in Disability Studies Inclusive Theory and Research at UK’s Bristol University: http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15993563.Retired_solicitor_from_Frocester_completes_degree_at_the_age_of_74/
 
* When you’re in grad school and you have a disability, getting (and giving) mentoring may occur in a variety of ways: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/disabled-grad-school-mentoring
 
* Known as “Study Drugs,” ADHD treatments and Nootropics that treat sleep disorders are becoming popular as a way to avoid sleep and study more, but they have serious side effects that are especially bad for people with anxiety: https://fit.thequint.com/mind-it/study-drugs-dont-work-for-exam-stress
 
* Jewish faith and culture, disability, and college life all converged for Lily Coltoff during the second annual Disability Inclusion Shabbat at American University’s Hillel: http://newvoices.org/2018/02/12/merging-my-judaism-and-disability-advocacy/
 
* As the norovirus swept through the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the campus forced all professors to excuse any absences for one week, but its led some students to ask for a more equitable university-wide absence policy: https://advancetitan.com/opinion/2018/02/15/uwo-missing-solid-absence-policy
 
* All conservatives and libertarians are autistic, according to Duke University history professor Nancy MacLean, whose ideas were quickly criticized for their lack of evidence and roots in negative stereotypes about autism: https://pjmedia.com/trending/conservatives-libertarians-autistic-spectrum-says-duke-professor/
 
* The 2018 Asia Development Fellows at the Asia Foundation will receive leadership and professional training, and they include LuanJiao Hu, a disability studies, gender studies, and education researcher and lecturer from the University of Maryland: https://asiafoundation.org/2018/02/14/advancing-leadership-asia-2018-asia-foundation-development-fellows/
 
* Gallaudet professor John Schuchman passed away at age 79; he was a reknown scholar about deaf people in the media and deaf people in the Holocaust: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/john-s-schuchman-scholar-who-wrote-of-the-deaf-in-holocaust-and-on-film-dies-at-79/2018/02/10/53ca8ffe-0de8-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html?utm_term=.1fb7fecec84b
 
* The University of Washington has great access and disability services, but there’s more that can be done to create a culture change, says an article in the student newspaper: http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_c5b32824-105e-11e8-a640-6764fc5d00fb.html
 
* Embrace “disorientation” in the disability studies classroom, says Eastern Washington University professor Ryan Parrey, in a video of his lecture (captions mostly accurate with some problems in the beginning, and no audio description): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LLboYgTUE&feature=youtu.be
 
* After being diagnosed with epilepsy, Auburn University sophomore Tannon Snow returned to playing softball: http://www.austin360.com/sports/college/auburn-softball-tannon-snow-shares-inspiring-story-returning-action-through-battle-with-epilepsy/fnFVIgydVjgOeV0OZggpNM/
 
* Justin Randall Jr gives presentations across New York to teach youth about not drinking and driving, but he ended up also teaching his care attendant, Julie Flanagan, that it was ok to go back to college and finish her degree, despite her worries about being in her 60s and having her own disability: http://www.thelcn.com/lcn05/clients-perseverance-inspires-caregiver-to-complete-degree-20180211
 
 
And a few related items of possible interest to college students:
 
* A blind teacher has created a braille code for the Navajo language: http://www.daily-times.com/story/news/education/2017/12/30/farmington-municipal-school-teacher-develops-navajo-braille-code/991168001/
 
* A few cities around the world are finding ways to help people with disabilities navigate, using cutting-edge technology, creative city planning, and sometimes surprisingly simple ideas: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/14/what-disability-accessible-city-look-like
 
* Comedian, actor, and filmmaker Zach Anner sits down with “Truth Bomb Mom” to explain a little very funny advice about raising kids with disabilities, including warnings about torque and toilets (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.facebook.com/littlethingscom/videos/1029249823951056/
 
* The new children’s film Peter Rabbit is being boycotted over a scene where rabbits violently shoot blackberries at an allergic farmer, forcing him to use an EpiPen: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-real-problem-with-peter-rabbit-s-allergy-scene
 
* In the first published report on the incident, doctors say U.S diplomats in Cuba have brain injuries without any visible trauma, and some Canadian diplomats in Cuba have experienced similar symptoms, but the cause of the illnesses are still unknown: http://10thousandcouples.com/2018/02/brain-injuries-found-in-american-staff-in-cuba/
 
* Criticized for her fluctuating weight during New York Fashion Week, model Gigi Hadid hit back on social media, coming out about her battles with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: http://www.enstarz.com/articles/203034/20180213/gigi-hadid-talks-how-hashimoto-s-disease-affected-her-life-what-is-it.htm
 
 
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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.