DREAM Weekly Email: November 11-December 1, 2018

​DREAM Weekly Email, Disability and Higher Education in the News: November 11-December 1, 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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** WITH THANKSGIVING, WE’VE MISSED A FEW WEEKS OF THE DREAM NEWSLETTER – GLAD TO BE BACK! **
 
 
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):
 
* As wildfires blazed across California, many campuses shut their doors and advised students with respiratory problems to wear masks: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/19/colleges-cancel-class-due-poor-air-quality-california-fires?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0579a85578-WNU_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0579a85578-225808461&mc_cid=0579a85578&mc_eid=d5645fe552
 
* A new 130+ page guide for making campus libraries more welcoming, accessible, and empowering for students with autism: https://news.fsu.edu/news/2018/11/29/fsu-research-guides-nations-libraries-on-serving-students-with-autism/
 
* A  Radcliffe Institute panel on global issues in disability and higher education is available free online; the panel was part of a conference on disability and citizenship at global and local levels (video is captioned and interpreted into ASL, but not audio described): https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/video/disability-and-citizenship-higher-education-and-closing-remarks
 
* A student at Arizona State University says professors should be more understanding about student absences and illnesses, especially when health insurance and mental health are ongoing issues for many students: http://www.statepress.com/article/2018/11/spopinion-opinion-professors-should-loosen-their-excused-absence-policies
 
* Kailin Bennett will be joining Kent State’s men’s basketball team, becoming the first player with autism to sign with a Division 1 school: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/kent-state-basketball-recruit-becomes-first-player-with-autism-to-join-division-1-school
 
* Two students at Cambridge University discuss doing sex work to cover financial expenses and because their disabilities affected their ability to work in other jobs: https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/16628
 
* Digital screens throughout California State University San Bernardino will show a timeline of the disability civil rights movement on December 3, in observance of International Day of People with Disabilities: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/11/29/1658726/0/en/Youth-Advocacy-Group-SoCal-Posse-Raises-Civil-Rights-Awareness-in-Observance-of-International-Day-of-People-with-Disabilities-with-Disability-History-Timeline-Exhibit-December-3.html
 
* The Austin Statesman shared stories of five blind and visually impaired students getting college degrees and some of the barriers they’ve experienced (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.statesman.com/news/20181121/for-blind-students-earning-college-degree-tests-patience-mettle
 
* A new report from Canada discusses how postsecondary education services and access are “silo’ed” on campuses, causing problems with access and employment: https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/accommodating-students-with-disabilities-on-campus-moving-beyond-silos/
 
* University of Iowa Students for Disability Advocacy & Awareness have collected over 2800 signatures on a petition to move student disability services to a more centralized location: https://dailyiowan.com/2018/11/28/petition-to-change-location-of-student-disability-services-gets-2800-signatures/
 
* A University of Maryland freshman with Crohn’s has died after getting the same strain of an adenovirus that has killed 11 children in a New Jersey health clinic; the parents are angry that the university never tested for it even though another student was known to have it: http://time.com/5461175/college-freshman-dies-adenovirus-7/
 
* The Veterans Affairs Department has been having computer problems that caused massive delayed or incorrect GI Bill benefit payments, including education benefits, and now they are saying vets won’t be reimbursed if they were underpaid: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/veterans-affairs-dept-tells-congressional-staffers-it-won-t-repay-n941491?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_mtp
 
* Two campuses in the UK released reports about disability:
* Cambridge University’s Disabled Student Campaign released a report with testimonies  of disabled students, faculty and staff, highlighting existing access barriers and lack of compliance with the 2010 Equality Act: https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/16616


* Oxford University’s student disability group released a report showing only 9% of campus libraries are physically accessible, while the university itself struggled to get more than 30% of departments to report for its audit of overall campus access: http://cherwell.org/2018/11/24/oxfords-accessibility-crisis/
 
* Doctoral student Christin Godale has struggled to manage school and epilepsy, and now she is using her work at the University of Cincinnati to research a cure for the disease: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2018/11/n2048739.html
 
* A WHO report declared India the “most depressed country in the world,” and postsecondary students in India are illustrating the problem, with one student suicide every hour: https://feminisminindia.com/2018/11/21/mental-health-students/
 
* A UK student with a chronic illness shares how they spend money for a week, and how health care expenses affect their budget: http://www.studentnewspaper.org/the-money-diaries-a-third-year-student-living-with-a-disability/
 
* On the first national Day of Action for Disability Equality in Education, faculty, staff and students shared their experiences and called for sweeping changes in the UK and its “silent massacre” of disabled staff and students: https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/union-leads-call-for-action-on-silent-massacre-of-disabled-staff-and-students/
 
* Inspired by a summer program for prospective autistic students at Bath University, a UK professional decided to implement the program across the region to help expand employment and postsecondary options: https://www.essexmagazine.co.uk/2018/11/anna-kennedy-obe-interviews-health-sector-career-engagement-officer-victoria-reynolds/
 
* Smoking bans help student health, but should the policies include Juul e-cigarettes?  https://www.chronicle.com/article/To-Juul-or-Not-to-Juul-/245155?cid=gn&utm_source=gn&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=10fe1c336d16404ca478f48f5e4a594e&elq=22f2bd77449b4f71b32ae17dcb0bef69&elqaid=21507&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=10302
 
* DePauw University faculty have voted “no confidence” in President Mark McCoy, who has downsized faculty and changed healthcare benefits to cut costs: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/21/depauw-faculty-split-no-confidence-vote-president?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0579a85578-WNU_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0579a85578-225808461&mc_cid=0579a85578&mc_eid=d5645fe552
 
* Marianna Figueiredo started a petition for disability studies at the University of Toronto after noticing disability was absent in nearly all of her courses – she’s already collected over 200 signatures: https://thevarsity.ca/2018/11/25/u-of-t-student-calls-for-disability-studies-program/
 
* If coaching is teaching, then it’s important for coaches to understand how learning disabilities, ADHD, and traumatic brain injuries can affect players’ participation: https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2018/11/26/18110937/how-learning-disabilities-impact-player-development-mlb-milb-minors-prospects-coaching-obstacles
 
* Another class action suit is proceeding against the NCAA in Indiana, for putting “profits and self-promotion” ahead of protecting athletes from head injuries: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2018/11/23/lawsuit-ncaa-concussion-college-football-tbi-cte/2089520002/
 
* Frustrated by faculty and staff not accommodating students, the University of Minnesota University Senate is calling for mandatory employee training about disability: http://www.mndaily.com/article/2018/11/n-umn-members-advocate-for-disability-training
 
* The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has updated their case-processing manual, including dropping a provision that allowed them to dismiss multiple complaints that were part of pattern of complaints by a single person or individual: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/11/21/education-department-updates-manual-civil-rights-investigations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2fd1d0fbd2-DNU_WO20181119_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2fd1d0fbd2-225808461&mc_cid=2fd1d0fbd2&mc_eid=d5645fe552   (the Washington Post talks more about the importance of this change to the disability community at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/education-departments-civil-rights-office-retreats-will-consider-claims-filed-en-masse/2018/11/20/a7ed362a-ed05-11e8-96d4-0d23f2aaad09_story.html?utm_term=.fc81103ebe92)
 
* Jefferson Community and Technical College is offering a new 12-week culinary program for blind and visually impaired students: https://www.wlky.com/article/new-program-teaches-culinary-skills-to-blind-and-visually-impaired/25308291
 
* Blind South African university student Tebogo Nkoana found out she had HIV after experiencing a sexual assault, but a student support group on campus helped her move forward and become an activist: https://www.zoutnet.co.za/articles/news/48767/2018-11-26/student-encourages-others-there-is-life-after-hiv
 
* One activist shares tips about being an ally to disabled and neurodiverse people in activist and academic communities, from the perspective of a “multiply marginalized Disabled, Trans, Queer, Autistic activist”: https://accessculture.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/how-to-be-an-ally-to-disabled-neurodiverse-folks-in-activist-academic-communities/
 
* A 15th century man buried with no hands illustrates the need for medieval disability studies: https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewgabriele/2018/11/25/medieval-man-no-hands/#6cc9a7bc68d2
 
* Felony charges have been filed against former president of Michigan State University, Lou Anna K. Simon, who allegedly lied to police investigating university physician Larry Nassar, who assaulted hundreds of athletes under his care: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/21/former-michigan-state-president-charged-lying-police-nassar-case?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0579a85578-WNU_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0579a85578-225808461&mc_cid=0579a85578&mc_eid=d5645fe552
 
* Jason Comacho has filed over 40 lawsuits against universities and colleges on the East Coast, claiming their websites do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act: https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-muhlenberg-east-stroudsburg-visually-impaired-lawsuits-20181120-story.html
 
* The Centre for Students with Disabilities at Simon Fraser University has changed its name to the Center for Accessible Learning: https://the-peak.ca/2018/11/sfus-centre-for-students-with-disabilities-changes-name/
 
* A new National Wounded Warrior Center is under construction in CA – the collaboration between Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra and Cerro Coso Community College will serve over 300 vets and their families each year, including vocational and educational training: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/11/prweb15949419.htm
 
* Besides her work in race, feminism and disability studies, what is Northeastern University professor Moya Bailey doing and reading these days?  Here’s a check-in: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/moya-bailey
 
 
 
A Few Other Items of Possible Interest:
* South African Eddie Ndopu hopes to be the first person with a physical disability to travel in space, and MTV is planning to record his journey: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/11/30/mtv-journey-to-space/25766/
 
* Culture shapes definitions of mental illness and how people experience emotional distress, and U.S. fields of psychology and psychiatry are trying to improve how clinicians view cultural understandings of “mental disorders” and “mental health”: https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/11/28/how-culture-shapes-your-mind-and-your-mental-illness/sMlhWP5LGSOvQAFd83I3qN/story.html
 
* Learn about Justin Clark, who sued his parents in 1982 over their guardianship, including the right to leave an institution and make his own decisions about his life – a case that was “pivotal” for the Canadian disability rights movement: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/november-25-2018-the-sunday-edition-with-michael-enright-1.4911588/how-justin-clark-s-fight-for-independence-transformed-disability-rights-in-canada-1.4911590
 
* Andrea Long Chu is having surgery to get a vagina, but in the process is also urging people to consider how surgery and medical treatment may not alleviate all the pain and suffering of trans people…and why that should be ok: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/opinion/sunday/vaginoplasty-transgender-medicine.html
 
* Researchers are realizing that many people with eating disorders do better if their romantic partners are included in treatment: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/well/eat/eating-disorders-food-anorexia-bulimia-binge-partners-spouses-treatment.html
 
* Which dogs would make good service dogs?  Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a Canine Aptitude Test to figure it out: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/university-of-arizona-studies-dog-intelligence-with-canine-aptitude-test-
 
* Model Rajee Aerie talks about media representation for people with disabilities and inclusion in the lingerie fashion industry: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/rajee-aerie-lingerie-ad-disabled-models-stretch-markes-surgery-scars
 
* DC is considering creating an office to help deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, after activists have complained about the city failing to provide sign language interpreters despite the presence of Gallaudet University and one of the highest concentrations of deaf people in the U.S.: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/26/dc-council-considers-new-office-resolve-sign-langu/
 
 
 
 
 
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, 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).