Colorado State University’s Disability Awareness Days Goes “Beyond Our Differences” to Celebrate Human Experiences Shared by All

Colorado State University’s Office of Resources for Disabled Students will present a week of events March 23-27 to heighten awareness of issues affecting people with disabilities.

The theme for this year’s Disability Awareness Days is "Beyond Our Differences." Activities will encourage people to move beyond perceived differences and celebrate the human experience shared by all individuals.

"Our fear of the unknown keeps us focused on our differences rather than on our human similarities," said Rosemary Kreston, director of the Office of Resources for Disabled Students. "Information and familiarity with the issues of disability can help to eliminate the barrier our fears have created to keep us apart."

The week will feature workshops, lectures, theater presentations and simulation activities including a wheelchair obstacle course.

"Disability Awareness Days events increase sensitivity toward people with disabilities and also show how many people on campus have disabilities," said Jerry Huerta, student event organizer. "The sessions help people know how to interact with and approach a person with a disability."

Events for Disability Awareness Days are scheduled as follows. All programs are free and open to the public except for the movies, which cost $2.50.

March 23

  • Disability Awareness Information Booth, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lory Student Center Plaza. Information will be available about the week’s activities and about support services provided to students with disabilities. Free food and drink.

March 24

  • Access Challenge, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lory Student Center Plaza. A wheelchair obstacle course and other disability simulations.
  • Communications and Disabilities in the Classroom, noon-1 p.m., Room 208 Lory Student Center. Presented by Bill Timpson, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

March 25

  • Nutrition Beyond the Differences, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lory Student Center Sunken Lounge.
  • Gifts in Disguise, noon-1 p.m., Room 228 Lory Student Center. Hakomi therapist Peggy O’Neill-Laise, self-described "little person," shares how she found a gift within the challenge of being different.
  • Canine Companions for Independence, 1-3 p.m., Lory Student Center Sunken Lounge.
  • Living with Depression, 4-5 p.m., Room 224-226 Lory Student Center.
  • Duet for One, 7-9 p.m., Johnson Hall Mainstage. An evening of disability-related performances by the Colorado State theater department. Additional events include presentation of the Outstanding Effort awards and winners of the Barrier-Free Design Contest.

March 26

  • American Sign Language 101, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Lory Student Center Plaza.
  • Working with Interpreters in the Classroom, noon-1 p.m., Room 228 Lory Student Center.

March 27

  • Barrier Free Designs, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lory Student Center Sunken Lounge. Display of contest-winning Barrier-Free Designs created by Colorado State interior design students.
  • Geri Jewell, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lory Student Center Sunken Lounge. Continuous video presentations of comedian Geri Jewell.
  • Assistive Technology and Ergonomic Resources, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lory Student Center Sunken Lounge. Resources to help maintain healthy working conditions.
  • "Scent of a Woman," 7 p.m., Lory Student Center Theatre. Movie presentation tells the story of human needs in the face of life’s challenges. Tickets cost $2.50.
  • "The Key" and "The Making of the Key," 9:45 p.m., Lory Student Center Theatre. Movies entirely in sign language with subtitles. Tickets cost $2.50.

For more information, call the Office of Resources for Disabled Students at (970) 491-6385.