DREAM Weekly Email: October 6-12, 2019

​DREAM Weekly Email, Disability and Higher Education in the News: September 29-October 5, 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)
 
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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)
• 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 and we’ll try to help! (NCCSD@ahead.org)
 
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Disability and higher education in the news (in no particular order):
 
* This week there were two important judicial cases with national implications:

• A “landmark settlement” between Stanford and Disability Rights Advocates will result in changes to leave-of-absence and involuntary leave polices, increased counseling staff, and other changes that may affect campuses across the U.S.: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/10/08/stanford-changes-leave-policies-mental-illness and https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/10/07/in-historic-settlement-stanford-agrees-to-revise-leave-of-absence-policies-for-students-in-mental-health-crisis
• Angelo Binno fought for eight years to make the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) more accessible for people who are blind, and through a settlement, the LSAT will now change for everyone, with Binno hoping it helps create “the next generation of blind lawyers:” https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/10/us/lsat-blind-people-trnd/index.html

 
* Medical student Alex Adams is the first deafblind doctor in the UK, and she says her experiences as a patient make her a better doctor (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7FZxaPl-k&feature=youtu.be
 
* The Athletic did an in-depth exposé on potential problems with University of North Carolina research that has influenced concussion protocols in college and professional sports; researchers never disclosed that players had unusually high rates of learning disabilities and ADHD, were receiving disability accommodations, and even taking stimulant medications that are usually banned by the NCAA (videos have captioning but no audio description): https://theathletic.com/1261858/2019/10/08/failure-to-disclose-the-mysterious-absence-of-critical-data-from-uncs-renowned-concussion-research/
 
* Students will be able to retake sections of the ACT college entrance exam if they get bad scores on one section, but do well in others: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/us/act-exam-changes-trnd/index.html
 
* What is like to be autistic…at a conference about autism research? https://undark.org/2019/07/11/being-autistic-at-an-autism-research-conference/?fbclid=IwAR1sBLOJPjx6gvzGsBfR6ouZEooJEzDV24W1G7LH28zrVQmI7ToLiEV3ET0
 
* University of Illinois wheelchair racing Paralympic athlete Arielle Rausin took a class about 3-D printing, which led to a business making plastic racing gloves for other athletes: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-wheelchair-race-gloves-arielle-rausin-chicago-marathon-20191009-l6nulamh6varnfd6cbcju62rq4-story.html
 
* Researchers in North Carolina tracked high school graduates with disabilities for 13 years, and found that higher levels of education led to higher job earnings, especially over the long term: https://www.nccommerce.com/blog/2019/10/08/higher-education-leads-higher-earnings-students-disabilities-north-carolina
 
* More students share their stories of trying to get personal care attendants in college and in jobs after graduation, with one student noting that some of the solutions to these problems are “not super hard” to implement: https://www.rewire.org/our-future/disabled-people-college/
 
* U.S. college student Malat Lueth Wei is one of the best wheelchair basketball players in the U.S., and he is helping introduce the sport to his home country of South Sudan: https://wamu.org/story/19/10/05/hoop-dreams-come-true-for-south-sudanese-wheelchair-player/
 
* In Tokyo, Tamaki Kabasawa was a sign language model for an animated film about “hearing impairment and bullying,” but she found herself turning to the film for support with her own struggles as a deaf college student: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910060001.html
 
* Presbyterian College’s student newspaper wrote about the Academic Success Office providing disability services from a converted storage space that’s not accessible to wheelchair users: https://www.presby.edu/bluestocking/2019/10/10/increasing-accessibility-at-pc/
 
* The “Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act” in Illinois will go into effect in 2020, addressing colleges’ “gaps in mental health services” including shortages of counselors, with requirements for setting up peer supports and community-campus partnerships: https://codcourier.org/12379/news/new-mental-health-law-gives-specific-guidelines-for-illinois-college-counseling-services/
 
* In the wake of the Stanford case, Good Morning America did a feature on rising suicide rates on college campuses, and how higher education can address the problem (video is subtitled but not audio described): https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/rising-suicide-rates-college-campuses-prompt-concerns-mental-66126446
 
* A new Campus Safety article explains how campuses can start working on emergency and crisis planning for students with disabilities: https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/safety/emergency-plans-students-with-disabilities/
 
* Northern College in Ontario has created a graduate program in “Accommodation and Human Rights Management” to fill the need for disability professionals in the workplace: https://www.northernnews.ca/news/local-news/northern-college-offering-new-program-2:
 
* In Canada, a court found that the University of Waterloo had created a “discriminatory barrier for a student with a disability,” and must accommodate the student and change their policies: https://www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-areas/human-rights/waterloo-university-case-sheds-light-on-after-the-fact-accommodation/306146
 
* An article in the University of Chicago student newspaper discusses barriers for students and staff with disabilities, and goals for the newly formed student disability organization: https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2019/10/8/unequal-access/
 
* Jenn Director Knudson developed anorexia during college, and now fasting for Yom Kippur is a terrifying experience on a day meant for community and atonement: https://forward.com/opinion/429831/on-yom-kippur-my-eating-disorder-haunts-me/
 
* El Camino College student David Nieto has a 4.0 GPA, a disability, and food and housing insecurity; a proposed California Community College Student Aid Program is designed to help address students’ real costs of living expenses including food, housing, and transportation: https://eccunion.com/news/2019/10/08/proposed-law-will-re-evaluate-the-true-cost-of-college/
 
* Chanel Miller wants people to know she is the “Emily Doe” of the Brock Turner sexual assault case; in a new book she talks about her experience with Stanford University after the attack, and how the university helped and harmed her mental health: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Chanel-Miller-Describes-How/247290?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&cid=at&source=ams&sourceId=4079424
 
* “How to ADHD” YouTuber Jessica McCabe visited the University of Iowa to talk about why her college experiences are a bad example to follow: https://dailyiowan.com/2019/10/09/youtube-star-and-disability-advocate-gives-lecture-at-the-university-of-iowa/
 
* Students without doctor’s notes shouldn’t be viewed as potential Ferris Buellers, says a column in the University of Montana newspaper: http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/professors-shouldn-t-require-doctor-s-notes/article_6f37843e-e9e9-11e9-b674-07cdef73de80.html

* Premed student Jacie has POTS and diabetes, and her service dog named Motley is offering support and assistance in many different ways: https://can-do-canines.org/a-calming-presence/
 
* Misericordia University is hosting a three-part series on intersections of disability in fields of medicine and the arts: https://www.misericordia.edu/page.cfm?p=500&newsid=3186
 
* An alum and student at Penn State share their stories about having eating disorders, encouraging others to utilize campus resources and supports if they need them: https://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_ee8f825c-e8a6-11e9-b8d4-bf5c3ad7f16d.html and https://www.collegian.psu.edu/features/article_ce75ad5c-e95f-11e9-b713-f30d36c818c4.html
 
* Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus have released their priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act; these include allowing students to use IEPs and 504 plans as disability documentation in higher education: https://lasentinel.net/tri-caucus-releases-higher-education-act-reauthorization-priorities.html
 
* UCLA students created partnerships with other campus groups to draw people in to disability awareness events this year,  which included wheelchair basketball games and a disability town hall: https://dailybruin.com/2019/10/09/student-groups-to-launch-campus-wide-events-for-disability-awareness-week/
 
* Student Kayla Patek has been educating people at Southeast Missouri State University about how to be an ally for people like her who are blind, including safe driving advice (news clip has captioning but no audio description): https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/10/09/disabled-semo-student-spreads-awareness-about-traffic-concerns/
 
* Sentencing continues for various parties involved in the varsity blues admissions scam (news clip is captioned but not audio described): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/student-s-parents-both-sentenced-month-prison-college-admission-scam-n1063831
 
* Read an interview with Professor Elizabeth Ellcessor at the University of Virginia, whose research showed that only 2.4% of speaking roles in films are characters with disabilities: https://news.virginia.edu/content/qa-breaking-down-disabled-underrepresentation-mainstream-media
 
* As a bisexual student with cerebral palsy, Elijah Melvin Sanders wondered about his place in college and struggled emotionally until he became active in student organizations: https://oaklandpostonline.com/29114/life-arts/sanders-breaks-barriers-for-people-with-disabilities/
 
* The University of North Texas found that professor Justin Trudeau had “violated policies on sexual harassment and harassment on the basis of disability,” but he is suing, saying the university violated his due process rights and committed retaliation and breach of contract in their investigation and punishments: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2019/10/07/unt-professor-sues-school-alleged-retaliation-after-accused-making-sexual-remarks/
 
* A new study shows parents of college students are increasingly concerned about their children’s mental health and how campuses are dealing with it: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/10/09/study-shows-parents%E2%80%99-concern-mental-health?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=161ab11b77-DNU_2019_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-161ab11b77-198891893&mc_cid=161ab11b77&mc_eid=a51c972f65
 
* Attorney and former police officer David Miller was found guilty of fraud after embezzeling more than $1.5 million from groups that included the Community College Consortium on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/lawyer-found-guilty-of-defrauding-virginia-legislator-autism-group/2019/10/05/ff185296-e600-11e9-a331-2df12d56a80b_story.html
 
 
 
A Few Other Items of Possible Interest:
 
* GQ’s “Men of the Year Award” will become the “Game Changer of the Year Award” to honor climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who has been vocal about her experiences with autism and depression: https://www.plantbasednews.org/news/greta-thunberg-gq-men-of-year-award?fbclid=IwAR1Y6Pi0HdRqSJQNWnXqBx6rLxGeFOSKmWerIbH7LxMwzewTaf1b6qFjEAo
 
* Across the South and Midwest, The Confess Project is training barbers to talk about mental health and share resources, especially with young men of color (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/barbershop-therapy/?xrs=CNNHP
 
* For the first time, all UK television channels will simultaneously air the same program – a film promoting “Every Mind Matters” to improve mental health; the film is notable for also including Harry, Meghan, William, and Kate to show  support from the Royal Family (video is captioned but not audio described): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7544497/Royals-television-takeover-mental-health-campaign.html
 
* In Columbia, a new project is training blind and visually impaired women to help other women with breast exams that can detect early signs of cancer (video has English subtitles but no captions or audio description): https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-49973669/the-blind-and-visually-impaired-women-checking-for-breast-cancer
 
* Ever wondered how guide dogs see the world?  A Wisconsin non-profit put go-pro cameras on a couple of dogs as they went through their day (video captioned but not audio described): https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2019/10/09/west-allis-nonprofit-makes-gopro-video-service-dogs-blind/3919290002/
 
* After Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders had a heart attack, it raised questions about the need for “healthy” Presidents, but are those questions ableist? https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/opinions/bernie-sanders-health-kassam-eschenheimer/index.html
 
* A feminist mental health practitioner talks about developing culturally relevant politics and practices in India that help professionals move from being “queer-friendly” to being “queer affirming”: https://feminisminindia.com/2019/10/10/queering-mental-health/
 
* Author Andrew Solomon writes in The New York Times about “the dignity of disabled lives” and the power of interdependency and community instead of independence and isolation: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/02/opinion/disabled-human-rights.html?fbclid=IwAR1CImi0OQeEKEhef3H_GR2FGv0EgfvXf7PQd63PpudvPnLUwVU1mF82XPs
 
* Singer LAUV talks about having depression and how to “seize the awkward” by talking with other and getting help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQAQj-L8o40&list=PLK8w1YD1FokBIX2ZFxaHXnnUStRWSWVsj
 
* The Minneapolis Star Tribune did an in-depth look at annual comprehensive needs assessments by the State that decide medical and health supports for people with disabilities, noting “a few hours can shape the rest of the year for families:” http://www.startribune.com/high-stakes-assessments-can-upend-lives-of-minnesota-families-with-disabilities/558453432/
 
* Sesame Street made history with an autistic character, but now the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network has broken ties with the show, saying the character is promoting negative messages about autism and organizations behind them: https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/08/sesame-street-autism-speaks-controversy-julia.html?fbclid=IwAR3Ecg75VvAe4T0O0is9nsKTVpt-2sJhihv9v3O31yBf1_EV_s9cc1O5R2U
 
* Jonathan Mooney writes in the New York Times about the dangers of valuing “normal” and how it puts people with “atypical brains” at risk: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/opinion/learning-disability.html
 
* The Supreme Court has decided not to review a case involving Domino’s Pizza, meaning it clears the way for people with disabilities to sue if retail websites are not accessible: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/10/07/dominos-pizza-website-accessibility-supreme-court-wont-hear-case/3904582002/ and https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2019/10/08/supreme-court-allows-sue-web-accessibility/27269/
 
* A new study found that 76% of homeless people in Los Angeles County are affected by mental illness, substance abuse, poor health, or a physical disability: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-07/homeless-population-mental-illness-disability
 
* Finance website WalletHub ranked the best and worst cities in the U.S. for people with disabilities, with South Burlington, Vermont getting first place, and Providence, Rhode Island in last place (video has captions but no audio description): https://www.golocalprov.com/news/providence-ranked-worst-city-in-u.s.-for-people-with-disabilities
 
* Meet Nina G., a stutterer, comedian, and disability advocate (podcast has audio but no transcript): https://www.wamc.org/post/51-1576-she-uses-stand-comedy-platform-disability-advocacy
 
* Rutgers University reserachers found that about 10.3% of all elected officials in the U.S. have a disability, but younger people, Native Americas and veterans with disabilities are well-represented: https://www.tapinto.net/sections/government/articles/rutgers-researchers-see-gap-in-representation-of-disabled-in-politics-2
 
 
 
For more information about DREAM or AHEAD contact Wendy Harbour (wendy@ahead.org).
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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).