First Disability Awareness Week at K-State designed to increase contact between disabled K-Staters and others in the campus community

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Source: Jaclyn Anderson, 785-532-6441, jaclyna@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/dss/ksfa.html
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, March 8, 2007

FIRST DISABILITY AWARENESS WEEK AT K-STATE DESIGNED TO INCREASE CONTACT BETWEEN DISABLED K-STATERS AND OTHERS IN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

MANHATTAN -- A group of advocates for individuals with disabilities at Kansas State University has organized the university's first "K-State for All," a campuswide disability awareness week March 25-31.

Activities scheduled include a wheelchair basketball game and clinic, an awareness exhibition with interactive sensitivity experiences, and a documentary film screening and discussion. "K-State for All" is organized by K-State's disability support services, and events are free and open to the public.

Andrea Blair, director of K-State's disability support services, said the goal of "K-State for All" is to embrace the diversity that individuals with disabilities bring to the K-State campus.

"It is our belief that in order to eliminate physical, social and attitudinal barriers for students with disabilities, K-State must actively foster greater contact between disabled and nondisabled students and provide educational opportunities that can help reframe the common attitude that having a disability is a deficit, when actually it is only a difference," she said.

"K-State for All" includes a disability awareness exhibition from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, it the K-State Student Union courtyard. The exhibition will feature informational booths sponsored by local and statewide disability-related organizations, as well as a panel discussion by K-State students regarding their disability-related challenges. Exhibitor booths will feature activities giving visitors an opportunity to consider the challenges of living with a disability, such as shooting a basketball while sitting in a wheelchair, trying out adaptive technology used by farmers with disabilities, and trying specialized software that allows individuals to compensate for a learning disability.

The exhibition also will include an American Stuff-a-Bear workshop, sponsored by the K-State Union Program Council. At the booth, visitors will be able to create and dress teddy bears that will be donated to programs associated with K-State that serve children with disabilities. Entertainment at the exhibition will be sign language interpretation of popular music and lyrics. The entertainment is sponsored by K-State's Creative Arts Therapy Students in cooperation with K-State's disability support services and the Union Program Council.

Other "K-State for All" events planned for the week include:

* Tuesday, March 27 -- Screening of the documentary film "Murderball," 7 p.m., Union's Little Theatre. The award-winning documentary film features wheelchair rugby at the International Paralympics Games. K-State counseling services staff will conduct a discussion about the film afterward. The Union Program Council is sponsoring the event.

* Wednesday, March 28 -- "Another View from Campus," 11 a.m., Union courtyard. Suzie Fritz, K-State volleyball coach, will spend some time on campus in a wheelchair so she can experience what it is like for a student who uses a wheelchair.

* Friday, March 30 -- Presentation by Ward Foley, noon to 1 p.m., Union courtyard. Kansas writer Foley is the author of "Thank My Lucky Scars." He will be available to sign books afterward. The Union Program Council is sponsoring the event.

* Saturday, March 31 -- Wheelchair basketball game, 1 p.m., Peters Recreation Complex. The Kansas Wheelhawks and KC Thunder, Division II members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, will play an exhibition game. A wheelchair basketball clinic will follow the game with the opportunity for individuals to try wheelchair basketball.

K-State's disability support services assists around 600 K-State students with disabilities by helping them with academic accommodations. For more information about "K-State for All," call disability support services at 785-532-6441, e-mail dss@k-state.edu or visit http://www.k-state.edu/dss/ksfa.html