DREAM Weekly Email: October 16-22, 2016

Weekly Update on Issues Related to Disability and Higher Education 
Week of October 16-22, 2016

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Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):

* Under a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice, Miami University of Ohio has agreed to make significant improvements to accessibility of technology on all its campuses, will change how it purchases new technology and provides access to students, and will pay $25,000 to students affected by existing policies: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/10/17/feds-instruct-miami-u-improve-disability-services/92003394/
 
* Gallaudet professor Teresa Blankmeyer Burke lists an A to Z guide to all the ways academia is not inclusive for Deaf professors: https://possibilitiesandfingersnaps.wordpress.com/2016/10/14/how-not-to-be-inclusive-deaf-academic-version/
 
* What’s it like to be in college with a disability that isn’t obvious to others?  Find out from students and staff at the University of Waterloo in Canada, who made a video called “Invisible Disabilities 101” (video is captioned but does not have audio description): http://uwimprint.ca/article/invisible-disabilities-101/
 
* The College Diabetes Network is helping students with disabilities connect with each other, for support and to share tips on handling diabetes during college: http://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20161012/college-students-with-type-1-diabetes-face-special-challenges
 
* Nearly 5,500 faculty members in the Pennsylvania state university system are on strike to protest issues that include the high costs of health care coverage: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/19/498573162/pennsylvania-professors-go-on-strike
 
* Pursuing his Master’s degree while working as a campus police officer for the University of South Alabama, Kenneth Johnson Jr. credits vocational rehabilitation for providing guidance and financial support during his undergraduate years, after years of struggling with ADHD: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/10/prweb13754722.htm
 
* Students with disabilities at the University of Rwanda have suddenly lost their free registration and are being asked to pay for disability accommodations – things seem bleak as disability organizations, the government, and campus administration argue over feasible options: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-10-20/204612/
 
* Going to college is inspirational, but only because “disabled” and “educated” don’t seem to be compatible terms for most people: http://thesqueakywheelchair.blogspot.com/2016/10/swimming-against-stream-on-being.html
 
* With waiting lists and increasing demand, counseling services are turning to online platforms and counseling via text messaging, but do these virtual counseling methods actually work? https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/10/19/colleges-turn-online-text-messaging-services-help-counseling-demand
 
* Laura Schifter describes how she relied on technology, supportive parents and encouraging teachers to get through school with dyslexia and eventually get a doctorate from Harvard: http://sites.ed.gov/osers/2016/10/from-hidden-potential-to-harvard/
 
* Dialogues on Disability continues, with disability studies scholar Shelley Tremain interviewing disabled philosophers: http://philosophycommons.typepad.com/disability_and_disadvanta/2016/10/dialogues-on-disability-shelley-tremain-interviews-cecilea-mun.html
 
* Sell off new marble slabs on the quad and pay for better mental health services, says a tongue-in-cheek petition at Williams College, but the student newspaper says it’s not a joke – there are real problems with funding for services and diversity of counselors: http://williamsrecord.com/2016/10/19/petitioning-for-change-the-colleges-obligation-to-prioritize-student-health/
 
* Teaching with a guide dog can inspire trust, encouragement and other emotions and musings, says Syracuse University professor Steve Kuusisto: https://stephenkuusisto.com/2016/10/18/more-about-teaching-with-a-dog/
 
* Two campuses in Michigan are taking different approaches to supporting autistic students: Grand Valley State University in Michigan is winning praise for its Links program, with a focus on mentoring (video captioned, with no audio description) (http://woodtv.com/2016/10/17/gvsu-program-recognized-for-helping-students-with-autism/), while Michigan State University’s ASSET and EPASS programs set up modules related to life skills and employment (http://statenews.com/article/2016/10/austistic-students-gets-help-from-epass-and-asset) 
 
* Universally designed technology can be a way to make courses accessible to all, so here are some tips, with examples from Cal State Northridge’s Universal Design Center: http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2016/10/universal-design-does-your-campus-comply
 
* Inclusive education opportunities are making news, featuring programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Georgia Tech’s EXCEL program (http://www.myajc.com/news/lifestyles/georgia-tech-opens-door-to-students-with-disabilit/nspd6/) and the Bridge program at Nicholls State, which is the only transition program certified by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www.banner-tribune.com/news-local/city-joins-program-youths-disabilities)
 
* The Centre for Culture and Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University in the UK has put a collection of lectures online (captions are off but they’re working on it, no audio description): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNcCKNIFGdTu5JjHbzf9DQ
 
* Florida State University education professor Brad Cox has received a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how autism influences college students’ performance in STEM courses: https://news.fsu.edu/news/education-society/2016/10/17/fsu-professor-receives-300k-study-autism-college-students/ 
 
 
And a few related items of possible interest to college students:

* The Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates have responded to requests for information about their vision for people with disabilities – you can read both of their statements here: http://www.aapd.com/our-focus/voting/2016-election/presidential-candidate-questionnaire/hiillary-clinton-vs-donald-trump/
 
* Have you missed some of the articles in the New York Times’ series on disability?  Here’s one link to all the articles, including the latest one about not wanting to be an inspiration: http://www.nytimes.com/column/disability
 
* Daniel the Emotional Support Duck rides a plane and ends up soothing everyone around him, while lighting up the Twitterverse: https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/emotional-support-duck?utm_term=.glgNPQDZj#.dyzK6qBV9
 
* Good news for wheelchair users who like to travel – as part of broader initiatives to protect travelers, the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin tracking how often airlines damage wheelchairs: https://www.transportation.gov/fastlane/dot-announces-enhanced-protections-air-travelers-actions-promote-airline-competition
 
* Sisters Jessica and Lianna Oddi explore the “jerks and perks” of living #TheDisabledLife through their new comic: http://mashable.com/2016/10/19/disability-comic-the-disabled-life/#YiQPSSUEzOqY
 
* “I am a gladiator,” says African American pastor, author and advocate Dr. Lamar Hardwick, who explains that his autism affects him every day in ways people may not even realize: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-autism-impacts-my-life-in-ways-you-cant-see_us_57f18064e4b0972364deb7b5
 
* The Minneapolis Star Tribune did a series on state sheltered workshops, and it’s just won the top award for reporting on disability: http://ncdj.org/2016/10/minneapolis-star-tribune-wins-2016-disability-reporting-award/
 
* Autism Speaks is infamous for funding potential cures for autism, but now it’s changing direction: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/14/autism-speaks-no-longer-cure/22884/
 
* Mental illness is not a problem for White people, says Palmira Muniz, who outlines why mental illness is ignored in the Latinx community, and why that needs to change: https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/mental-illness-is-not-a-white-person-problem-4-reasons-mental-illness-is-ignored-in-the-latinx-community-and-why-that-needs-to-end/
 
* Using a prosthetic leg, Terry Fox ran across Canada and won the hearts of his country, so why is the new musical about him using a nondisabled actor instead of one who has a prosthetic leg? http://www.hesherman.com/2016/10/13/in-new-musical-about-amputee-faking-disability/
 
* DC will be voting on right-to-die legislation, but some in the district believe it will disproportionately affect African Americans: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/right-to-die-law-faces-skepticism-in-us-capital-its-really-aimed-at-old-black-people/2016/10/17/8abf6334-8ff6-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html
 
* Activists in Mexico City are fighting for better physical access (video is captioned, but no audio description): http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37639643
 
* Netflix announces a new series called “Atypical,” which will focus on an autistic teen: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/18/netflix-series-teen-with-asd/22901/
 
* Irish Sign Language is moving close to recognition as a native and independent language, thanks to a bill moving through the legislative process: http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-sign-language-law-bill-3035112-Oct2016/
 
* Social Security says people receiving SSI or other benefits will see a 0.3% increase in 2017: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/18/ssi-benefits-to-increase-in-2017/22898/
 
* “I have right…to refuse any and all medications and procedures and I’m demanding to see a patient advocate now!” – one woman shares her traumatizing experience with ER staff and how she got the care she needed (heads up that this article is not an easy one to read – especially for people identified as having bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions): https://notalwaysworking.com/levels-service-bi-poles-apart/47735
 
* Continuing her satirical video series, “Tipsy Tullivan” interviews disabled poet Jim Ferris, and asks how to interview a disabled writer (captioned, but no audio description): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTVN2CyXViE&feature=youtu.be
 
* Graduation rates for high school students with disabilities continue to rise, mirroring improvements in rates for nondisabled high school students, as well: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/18/graduation-rate-climbs/22894/
 
* Every month, a movie theater in Indonesia recruits local volunteers to be “cinema whisperers” for blind people during movies, explaining anything visual happening in the films: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37627968
 
* Gregory Lawler of Georgia is scheduled to receive a lethal injection, but his attorneys say he has been diagnosed with autism, which may have affected his commission of the crime and his unusual interactions with officers after his arrest: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/georgia-death-row-prisoner-gregory-lawler-invokes-autism-defense-n667756?cid=eml_onsite
 
 
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.