DREAM Weekly: March 4-10, 2018

​DREAM Weekly on Disability and Higher Education in the News: March 4-10, 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):
 
* A new study found minimal supports and “strikingly high” rates of depression and anxiety in graduate students, with rates six times higher than the general population and even higher for transgender and gender non-conforming students: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/03/06/new-study-says-graduate-students-mental-health-crisis
 
* The U.S. Department of Education is overhauling rules for investigating civil rights complaints in moves that critics say will weaken protections, including eliminating systemic investigations and getting rid of an appeals process for students who say they have experienced discrimination: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/01/betsy-devos-school-civil-rights-rules-711790
 
* Netflix will be livestreaming “Take Your Pills” starting March 16 - a new film about ADHD drugs on campuses: http://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/netflix-take-your-pills-trailer-watch-adhd-drugs-college-1201936842/
 
* Leeds City College in the UK has a new full-time staffer with four legs – Jeffrey the therapy dog, who will have drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments with students (video is not captioned or audio described): https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-city-college-adopts-puppy-14371351
 
* The Law School Admission Council was found in contempt for violating a consent decree to establish better accommodations procedures for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT); the consent decree has now been extended for two years: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/council_that_administers_the_lsat_is_held_in_contempt_ada_consent_decree_is
 
* Celebrate International Women’s Day by learning about Agnes Hunt (1866-1949), a British disabled women who became the world’s first orthopedic nurse, helped found a rehabilitation hospital, and established a training college for people with disabilities, saying “I began to think I had been especially sent on earth to help other cripples:” https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/health/2018/03/08/woman-who-changed-life-for-the-disabled/
 
* A new study of college students with autism found that nearly 75% had suicidal ideation or behaviors, with researchers saying the results deserve “immediate attention” from higher education disability services and mental health providers: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-03-college-students-autism-high-suicidal.html
 
* Barnard College is now offering mind/body courses, yoga, body conditioning, and other courses so students with disabilities have more options in completing the physical education requirement: https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/03/08/barnard-updates-physical-education-requirement-to-better-accommodate-disabled-students/
 
* City College of New York hired Lynda Dodd to teach about civil rights law, and now she is using civil rights laws to sue the campus, alleging that she was denied tenure based on her disability of multiple sclerosis; 50 political scientists have wrote to the campus, praising her work and calling the tenure decision “a manifest injustice”: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/nyregion/lynda-dodd-tenure-denied-city-college-lawsuit.html
 
* Trump and DeVos announced more major changes to higher education, including elimination of many student loan programs and consolidation of GEAR UP and TRIO programs into block grants to states: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/02/13/trump-and-devos-call-for-massive-cuts-to-college-student-aid-programs/?utm_term=.d2180d5904d4
 
* Stop describing universities as “toxic environments,” says one British professor of psychiatry, who notes that mental health challenges are a normal part of college student development, and there are dangers of “over-professionalization and over-medicalization of normal emotions:”  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/labelling-universities-toxic-mental-health-harmful
 
* In addition to already having service animals and emotional support animals, Elizabethtown College is setting up pet-friendly housing for Fall, 2018: http://www.etownian.com/campus-life/weekly-chirp-students-faculty-weigh-students-allowed-pets-campus-next-year/
 
* Students at Gonzaga University started Project Inspire, which pairs up college students with learning disabilities with young people and their families who are dealing with the same issues: https://www.gonzagabulletin.com/news/article_bdf95fb6-2249-11e8-a7d9-63c81627c23e.html
 
* Former star lacrosse player Kennedy Flavin is suing Westminster College, after the campus housed her within 100 feet of a man who had sexually assaulted her in high school, and failed to provide ways for her to access campus security as a deaf woman: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/03/02/a-utah-college-put-a-sex-assault-victim-and-her-attacker-in-neighboring-dorms-violating-a-stalking-order-and-title-ix-lawsuit-says/
 
* Central Michigan University student James Eric Davis Jr. was arrested after shooting and killing his parents on campus, triggering a lockdown; he was acting “erratically” and may have been using drugs: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/06/central-michigan-university-student-arraigned-parents-slayings/401178002/
 
* Read a speech from Pitzer College about the Disability Day of Mourning, which gave people “1,027 reasons to be angry” during a public reading of the 1,027 names of people with disabilities who had died at the hands of family members in the past year: http://tsl.news/opinions/7385/
 
* Surviving leukemia has changed how Vassar professor Alison Spodek Keimowitz teaches about climate change and how she deals with the despair she and her students often feel: https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/an-environmental-professor-on-learning-to-cope-with-climate-change.html
 
* Networks of students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin are training themselves to use Narcan with students who are experiencing opioid overdoses; there are already plans to expand the training to two other universities in Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-college-students-fearing-opioid-deaths-12727260.php?elqTrackId=aeac8b11e1364e449a61155b57a09c86&elq=e49902a0b8bd4682a1063e306ceb26cf&elqaid=18065&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8040
 
* Cape Cod Community College has partnered with a local high school to provide courses for 18-22 year old high school students with disabilities: https://www.capenews.net/bourne/news/new-program-helps-bhs-special-ed-students-transition-out-of/article_73147415-56a0-5429-9ed4-4227461ee228.html
 
* While a student was trying to get anti-psychotic medication, health services sent public safety officers who handcuffed the student for transportation to the hospital via ambulance; an anonymous editorial at Princeton shares the disturbing experiences of a student with schizophrenia, who says the university’s responses to all mental health problems are hospitalizations and medical leaves: http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2018/03/perspective-of-a-schizophrenic
 
* North Lake College in Texas has developed monthly learning sessions for students with chronic illnesses: http://newsregisteronline.com/chronic-illness-warriors/
 
* Cornell University’s associate dean Sara Xayarath Hernádez is part of the “Diversity Includes Disability” campaign on campus because she wants people to know that not all disabilities are visible: http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/03/disability-need-not-define-achievement-hernandez-says
 
* Robert McDougal is suing Orange Coast College for not accommodating his autism and maltreating him when arresting him for violating a restraining order, but he is facing charges of repeatedly violating that order, destruction of property, and suspicion of leaving racist grafitti: http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-mcdougal-lawsuit-20180308-story.html
 
* Racing video games may be more accessible to blind and visually impaired players, thanks to new technology developed by a doctoral student at Columbia University: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2018/03/07/new-technology-lets-blind-gamers-play-racing-video-games_a_23379394/?utm_hp_ref=za-lifestyle
 
* The European Court of Human Rights heard the case of Enver Ṣahin v. Turkey, which found in favor of a university student who was denied reasonable accommodations and access; the Court referred to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in its decision: https://strasbourgobservers.com/2018/03/09/disability-and-university-pragmatic-activism-the-pros-and-cons-of-enver-sahin-v-turkey/
 
* People with disabilities are entering the workforce at higher rates than ever, but rates vary significantly by states and ethnicity of workers; the report calls on better access to K-12 and higher education as one pathway to better jobs: https://www.respectability.org/2018/02/22/new-jobs-people-disabilities/
 
* Gao Yanning of Fudan University was one of the first Chinese professors to study and teach about AIDS and the LGBT community in China, but he is retiring this year and some are worried about who will continue his legacy: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-03-09/taboo-busting-professor-who-dared-to-teach-about-hiv-due-to-retire-101219209.html
 
* Ryerson University is trying to decide whether the nursing program should be with STEM fields, or whether it belongs with community service oriented degree programs that include disability studies: https://theeyeopener.com/2018/03/does-nursing-belong-in-stem/
 
* Getting services to disabled homeless children and disabled children in foster care are difficult, and students’ transitions to other districts, work, or college may complicate things even further: https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/03/07/getting-help-fast-for-disabled-homeless-students.html
 
* Students with disabilities are able to propose ways for Colorado State University to address access issues, with the Committee for Disabled Student Accessibility openly calling for suggestions: https://collegian.com/2018/03/csus-resources-for-disabled-students-works-through-cdsa-to-enhance-accessibility/
 
* State police are investigating a written threat against Landmark College, which was left on a classroom whiteboard: http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/state-police-investigate-threat-at-landmark-college/article_353885a0-2a17-5e59-89b0-53a6a1b817a7.html
 
* Thousands of K-12 students in Portland had their private data used by Portland State University researchers without permission, in a study of whether student teachers could affect learning of students with disabilities, students of color, and ESL learners: http://www.wweek.com/news/schools/2018/03/07/portland-state-university-researchers-may-have-violated-federal-law-by-using-the-personal-data-of-thousands-of-portland-area-k-12-students/?elqTrackId=0650141a9c2248fa8e22c2c881d2de3a&elq=a768963b827d4911802252c115172c25&elqaid=18107&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8066
 
* Michael Duggan at the College of DuPage realized most books about autism were for children, so he wrote a new book to help college counselors and staff support college-level students with autism: http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180308/constable-when-autism-goes-to-college
 
* Kodi Justice was ashamed of his dyslexia and tried to hide it, until a reporter and coach at Arizona State University asked him to talk about it: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/pac12/2018/03/07/arizona-states-kodi-justice-doesnt-let-dyslexia-learning-disability-slow-him-down/403454002/
 
* Lancaster University in the UK is offering a free online course to any foreign language teachers who want to improve their pedagogy with students who have dyslexia: https://www.lep.co.uk/news/education/improved-learning-to-help-dyslexics-with-languages-1-9053292
 
* The IDEA website offering information about special education law and transition will be replaced by a new website, says the U.S. Department of Education: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/03/06/ed-department-abandon-idea-site/24815/
 
* Valencia College student Fabiola Cosme-Feliciano died of complications from diabetes, and her boyfriend has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after leaving her alone while she was in diabetic shock, without a car or any way to call for help; her family immigrated to the U.S. from Puerto Rico so she could get better diabetes care: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-fabiola-cosme-feliciano-death-20180221-story.html
 
* What happens to students who are arrested for selling ADHD medications on campus?  An ADHD coach interviews one college student who experienced it: https://www.additudemag.com/medication-diversion-adhd-prescription/
 
* Fallout continues at Harvard after The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article explaining how mishandling of a sexual assault case led to decades of other students and professors being harassed, and now activists are demanding an apology; the professor who initially filed the complaint had to take a medical leave from the stress and violence, and eventually left Harvard: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Letter-Demands-Apology-for/242777?cid=db&elqTrackId=6eeba3cc4b174033a613ae27817f52b0&elq=f845c153af174bf99f6873b58c4b6edb&elqaid=18128&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8076
 
* A report at Johns Hopkins University says first-generation students, students of color, and queer students at Johns Hopkins University are at higher risk of mental illness, but students criticize the report for not making any recommendations to address the problem: http://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2018/03/hopkins-needs-to-enact-mental-health-reform
 
* Ending the use of the “R-Word” is the goal of the nation-wide Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, and many campuses are taking part, including the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point (video is captioned with no audio description): http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Students-take-pledge-to-end-offensive-phrase-476175903.html
 
* Scale smashing events were held on campuses across the country for Eating Disorder Awareness Week, including Proud 2B Me activities at the University of Northern Colorado: https://www.uncmirror.com/arts/2018/03/06/students-armed-hammers-fight-back-eating-disorders/
 
* Nakesha Williams died homeless and mentally ill on the streets of New York City, believing she was still a college student who didn’t need any kind of treatment – how could this happen?  The key, says one professional, is understanding the situation from a strengths perspective instead of a deficit model: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/health/nakesha-williams-involuntary-commitment.html
 
* 60 wheelchair tennis players from 16 countries have registered for the Georgia Wheelchair Championships at Berry College: http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/wheelchair-tennis-tournament-an-international-draw-plans-for-a-river/article_4d84acea-1d7b-11e8-bacd-f3670f359063.html
 
* The University of Washington student newspaper recommends changes in the withdrawal system and other policies that might make the campus more welcoming to prospective students with disabilities: http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_13a79e44-201c-11e8-8890-cb59d9e7d8ca.html
 
* Grinnell College will be hosting a Disability Event Series of four events that will focus on disability identity: http://www.thesandb.com/article/talk-opens-dialogue-around-learning-disabilities-on-campus.html
 
* Saddleback College received a $350,000 grant from the California Community College Mental Health Services Grant Program to improve mental health services at the Student Health Center: http://lariatnews.com/news/saddleback-college-receives-funding-to-address-mental-health/
 
* Northwestern University is struggling to keep up with increasing demands for disability services, despite pilot testing universal design initiatives and promoting disability as a campus-wide issue: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/03/09/in-focus/with-demand-for-greater-accessibility-northwestern-staff-students-aim-to-close-institutional-gaps/
 
* Students shouldn’t have to accommodate themselves, says an opinion column in the George Washington University newspaper, which calls for profs to offer accessible office hours and for more inclusion of disability in diversity trainings: https://www.gwhatchet.com/2018/03/08/inaccessible-buildings-and-campus-culture-hurts-students-with-disabilities/
 
 
And a few related items of possible interest to college students:
 
* The Paralympics are here!  Read about six athletes you should follow: https://www.paralympic.org/news/pyeongchang-2018-6-must-see-athletes?utm_source=OCALI+Communications&utm_campaign=5ec5ee955e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e20b46887d-5ec5ee955e-408054833
 
* Why do people in the U.S. ignore the Paralympics, when other countries follow it closely?  https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/03/01/why-americans-ignore-paralympics/KWWA6u8owaA0V12zDZyDyH/story.html
 
* Technology can give “voice to the voiceless,” but does it truly give a voice if society as a whole is disempowering people with disabilities? https://psmag.com/social-justice/can-technology-really-give-voice-to-disabled-people
 
* “…This wheelchair is my throne, and I am the queen,” says Indian disability activist Virali Modi: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/wheelchair-my-throne-i-m-queen-virali-modi-disability-activism-and-more-77635
 
* Mattel created a new line of Barbie dolls celebrating “inspiring women” that includes Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist with a disability, but her descendants are not happy about it: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-43339428
 
* NBA star Kevin Love is talking publicly about his panic attacks, and how they affect his playing for the Cavaliers: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2018/03/kevin_love_discloses_his_battl.html
 
* Ted Kennedy Jr. announced that he is leaving the Connecticut General Assembly to focus on being a disability rights lawyer and activist, continuing work he’s done since losing his leg to cancer as a child: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/03/05/ted-kennedy-jr-not-seeking-reelection/
 
* Ryan Morris and Sean Spicer got married, but Morris has intellectual disabilities and the marriage made Spice is his guardian, so is this a loving gay marriage or an abusive situation with a manipulative man and a vulnerable adult?  A judge in California is navigating the tricky legal questions: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/03/06/can-marriage-not-understand/24808/
 
* Read about Marsha P. Johnson, a key figure in the Stonewall riots and Black transgender activist who had mental illness, saying “I may be crazy, but that don’t make me wrong:” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/obituaries/overlooked-marsha-p-johnson.html
* In India, many blind women are learning judo and competing in national championships: http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-43226807
 
* A new podcast, “The Mind Desconstructed,” features an attorney and professor who are siblings, explaining issues related to mental health in everyday language: https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2018/03/siblings-podcast-deconstructs-mental-illness
 
* A new urban fantasy comic DUNAMIS features a cast of superheroes with disabilities up against a witch doctor: https://comicsverse.com/dunamis-1-review/
 
* Ireland passed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), meaning all countries in the European Union have now ratified it: http://trinitynews.ie/after-11-years-dail-finally-passes-un-disability-rights-convention/
 
* Noted disability activist Javed Abidi passed away at age 53; he was chairperson at Disabled People’s International and worked on disability rights in India after graduating from Wright State University in the U.S.: https://thewire.in/229541/noted-disability-rights-activist-javed-abidi-dies-heart-attack-53/
 
* The Shape of Water may have won an Oscar, but it’s sending out negative messages about disability: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shape-of-water-offensive-to-people-with-disabilities_us_5a8b798de4b0a1d0e12c48fc
 
* Many people think of fireworks over Cinderella’s castle when they think of Disney, and now Disney researchers are using water and technology to make fireworks shows accessible to visually impaired people (video has captions but no audio description): https://www.disneyresearch.com/publication/feeling-fireworks/
 
* ABC has renewed “The Good Doctor” for a second season – the TV series follows a surgeon with autism and savant syndrome: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/03/08/autism-good-doctor-new-season/24828/
 
* A new list of “Canada’s Best Diversity Employers” includes companies that have innovative programming for employees with disabilities: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/top-employers/diversity-and-inclusion-give-these-firms-a-competitive-advantage/article38217315/
 
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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.