DREAM Weekly Email: January 13-19, 2019

​DREAM Weekly Email, Disability and Higher Education in the News: January 13-19, 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)
 
 -------------------------------
 
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 (NCCSD@ahead.org).
 
-------------------------------
 
Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):
 
* Stanford’s Undergraduate Senate passed a resolution supporting creation of a permanent on-campus disability community center to replace the temporary “Abilities Hub” space; a petition in support of the center received more than 700 signatures in one day: https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/01/16/senate-passes-resolution-supporting-disability-community-center/ and https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/01/16/disability-community-center-inclusion-highlighted-in-assu-fall-progress-report/
 
* For the first time, the IRS will inform people with disabilities about ABLE accounts, including new rules allowing people to deposit work income; money in ABLE accounts does not affect government benefits and may be used for a variety of purposes, including college expenses: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/12/13/irs-reminding-able-account-rules/25812/
 
* The Netherlands’ Tilburg University has an Academic Collaborative Center that requires researchers to collaborate with people who have intellectual disabilities: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/current/news/background-tranzo/
 
* The Television Academy Foundation that produces the Emmys announced nominees for the prestigious annual College Television Awards; Florida State University student Chris Violette is the winner of the Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship award, for his project Woman of Steel: http://www.emmys.com/news/foundation-news/cta-nominees-2019
 
* Inspired by a leadership course, two students at South Dakota State University are working to make “mental health days” accommodations under SDSU’s attendance policies: https://sdsucollegian.com/5456/news/leave-of-absence/
 
* Missouri State University opened a new Bear POWER program for students with intellectual disabilities: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2019/01/13/inclusive-msu-program-opens-doors-students-disabilities/1581923002/
 
* Studying what she calls “technoableism,” Virginia Tech researcher Ashley Shew looks at the differences between how nondisabled researchers and disabled people view technology: https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/ashley-shew-disability-research-virginia-tech
 
* An in-depth series in The Tribune newspaper reports on eating disorders in college students, and shares the story of one student at California Polytchnic State University and how she got help (videos are not captioned or audio described):

• Part 1 of this story is at https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/health-and-medicine/article223957915.html
• Part 2 is at https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/health-and-medicine/article224531485.html

 
* A Peru State College researcher will be naming a newly-discovered virus after his beloved wheelchair-using dog: http://kwbe.com/featured-news/nebraska-born-scientist-peru-state-alum-names-virus-in-memory-of-wheelchair-bound-dog/
 
* The Marquette University newspaper noted that its theatre building’s stage and classrooms are not physically accessible to students or visitors, and calls on the Campus Master Plan to be amended so theatre renovations would be priority: https://marquettewire.org/4004574/opinion/editorial-helfaer-theatre-accessibility-still-an-issue/
 
* Deaf Princeton student Alik Zalmover and his ASL interpreters are profiled in the university’s student newspaper, which notes that Princeton offers ASL courses but does not accept them in fulfillment of the language requirement: http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2019/01/interpreters-asl
 
* As the country continues its transition to a democracy, Gambia teacher Abbie Jammeh is calling for the country’s new constitution to have a disability commission, to recognize sign language as one of the official languages, and for free K-12 and university education for all people with disabilities: http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/teacher-wants-commission-for-persons-with-disability
 
* In the Dialogues on Disability series, doctoral student Grace Joy Cebrero talks about choosing her philosophy program at the University of Minnesota, access as a student, and teaching with a disability: https://biopoliticalphilosophy.com/2019/01/16/dialogues-on-disability-shelley-tremain-interviews-grace-joy-cebrero/
 
* British universities had a 38% increase in the number of students with disabilities, and the government’s Universities Minister has called for new ways to improve their experiences and break down barriers: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/call-for-universities-to-improve-support-for-disabled-students
 
* Yale School of Drama will provide an annual scholarship to train actors with disabilities, through funding from the Ruderman Family Foundation: https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/01/15/ruderman-family-foundation-and-yale-school-of-drama-announce-partnership/
 
* The University of Chittagong in Bangladesh set up a new Accessible E-Learning Center to support the campus’ 150 blind students and make the university more accessible: http://ypsa.org/2019/01/university-of-chittagong-inaugurated-the-first-accessible-e-learning-center-in-bangladesh/
 
* Amanda Koller is a deaf student getting her second master’s degree, after sending out over 1,000 applications and still not finding work: https://www.wfae.org/post/deaf-and-unemployed-1000-applications-still-no-full-time-job#stream/0
 
* University of Rochester students Emmanual Gweamee and Aime Laurent Twizerimana are working in Liberia and Rwanda to help disabled young people participate in the electoral process and learn entrepreneurship skills:  https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20190110235946682
 
* After multiple lawsuits related to concussions, insurance companies are refusing to cover football programs and football helmet manufacturers, meaning college and local football programs may have to close: http://www.espn.com.au/espn/story/_/id/25776964/insurance-market-football-evaporating-causing-major-threat-nfl-pop-warner-colleges-espn
 
* Disability services provider Hiwot Mekuanent at the University of Gondar in Ethiopia is studying law to work on federal policies affecting people with disabilities: https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/law-student-plans-make-her-country-disability-friendly
 
* Graduate student Erica Avery says diversity in science must include disability: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/disabled-researchers-are-vital-to-the-strength-of-science1/
 
* The University of Worcester in the UK is seeking an architect to design an inclusive cricket sports center on campus: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions/competition-international-centre-for-inclusive-cricket/10038939.article
 
* Learn about innovative transition programs around the country, including college-based programs in Boston at Roxbury Community College: http://districtadministration.com/moving-forward-college-careers-special-education/
 
* Interim president of Michigan State University has been forced out, after he suggested gymnastics athletes abused during medical treatments by Dr. Larry Nassar were making accusations for the money and “enjoying the spotlight”: https://www.chronicle.com/article/At-Michigan-State-a/245508?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=29b3dc30109d4ba482a80d9897749d64&elq=c946b53af6054421b1a3dbf3236e71cf&elqaid=22006&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=10772
 
* The University of South Dakota student newspaper published an editorial calling for better physical accessibility on campus: http://volanteonline.com/2019/01/editorial-campus-accessibility/
 
* A racial and disability discrimination lawsuit by former Susquehanna University employee Victor Northern was dismissed unless Northern, who is representing himself, provides an amended complaint with enough details for the judge presiding over the case: https://www.dailyitem.com/news/snyder_county/judge-dismisses-employment-discrimination-complaint/article_ff9eb346-af60-5974-8882-7c5001909515.html
 
 
A Few Other Items of Possible Interest:
 
* In a landmark case, a judge ruled that Domino’s pizza must make its website and app accessible to people with disabilities; the decision sets a precedent for similar lawsuits around the country: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46894463
 
* The partial federal shutdown is now the longest in history, with no end in sight – here’s a few ways it’s affecting people with disabilities, including college students:

• In this article about how colleges are helping students affected by the shutdown, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators reminds people that financial aid offices can address concerns about scholarships, student loans, and any family financial hardship, just as they do with family’s dealing with medical debt and other issues: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/18/colleges-respond-shutdown-creates-new-cost-issues-some-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=000822fb1d-DNU_2019_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-000822fb1d-198891893&mc_cid=000822fb1d&mc_eid=a51c972f65
• Researchers believe it will take at least one year for research efforts to catch up after shutdown delays: https://www.chronicle.com/article/If-History-Is-Any-Guide-End/245476?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=97b3767ca78d4a539b79df76ed1a0f6c&elq=7dfa074a69434ecda20761ff78baa9e2&elqaid=21974&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=10747
• Here’s a list of how different federal agencies are affected: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/04/5-industries-affected-by-government-shutdown.html  
• A federal worker talks about not having money to pay for basic medical needs, including a personal care assistant: https://www.vox.com/first-person/2019/1/17/18185810/government-shutdown-furlough-disability
• Another person with a disability talks about being furloughed and trying to choose between epilepsy medication and electricity: https://wamu.org/story/19/01/15/shutdown-forces-this-furloughed-fed-to-choose-between-medication-or-electricity/

 
* “Faces Behind the Screen” tells the stories of people who benefit from accessible web design, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or low vision (videos are captioned but not audio described, and all stories are available as text): https://www.3playmedia.com/faces-behind-the-screen/
 
* New research suggests that companies that employ and support people with disabilities are outperforming other companies in the U.S., with an average 28% higher revenue: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/company-persons-with-disabilities
 
* Patrick Burleigh started puberty at age 2 after inheriting a gene for testotoxicosis that was passed down among males in his family; he talks about his life growing up and reflects on whether or not he wants to edit the genes of his son to eliminate the condition: https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/precocious-puberty-patrick-burleigh.html
 
* The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil was born partially deaf, but still turned down a role of a deaf woman because she didn’t want to “be part of erasure,” encouraging recruiters to give the role to “a brilliant deaf woman:” https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/jameela-jamil-reveals-why-she-turned-down-role-of-deaf-woman-37712416.html
 
* A decorated veteran and U.S. citizen with mental illness was detained by ICE for deportation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/01/17/latino-marine-veteran-was-detained-deportation-then-ice-realized-he-was-citizen/?utm_term=.8761430417b0
 
* Doctors said Haley Moss was autistic and would probably never graduate from high school, but this year she became an attorney and was admitted to the Florida Bar: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2019/01/14/twenty-years-after-her-autism-diagnosis-haley-moss-is-admitted-to-the-florida-bar/
 
* Wondering how to be a sighted ally for blind and visually impaired people?  Here are some tips: https://www.autistichoya.com/2013/08/a-guide-to-sighted-allyhood.html
 
* A new high-tech baton allows blind musicians to follow a conductor and join professional orchestras: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/15/hi-tech-batons-allow-blind-musicians-follow-conductor-first/
 
* Paris Jackson is seeking treatment for her emotional health and has “checked herself into a treatment facility (video is not captioned or audio described): https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/01/16/paris-jackson-seeking-treatment-for-emotional-health-exclusive/23644039/
 
For more information about DREAM or AHEAD contact Wendy Harbour (wendy@ahead.org).
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, the National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), AHEAD, or the U.S. Department of Education agree with or support everything in these links we send out - we're just passing along the information so you can form your own opinions.  Thanks.
 
DREAM and the NCCSD are funded by a grant to AHEAD from the U.S. Department of Education (P116D150005).