Pointlife
Stevens Point moves to open minds about disabilities at UWSP
The Pointer
hshee298@uwsp.edu
There are many things to celebrate in the fall: the changing of the colors, a fresh semester and the harvest. There is more to celebrate this October than ever before with the start of the Disabilities Awareness Fair, boasting the slogan, “celebrate all abilities.”
The Disabilities Awareness Fair of Stevens Point was the kick-off event for the National Disabilities Awareness Month. The fair, native to the Stevens Point community, drew guests from around the state to highlight services available for people with disabilities. The event took place this past Monday, Oct. 5, in the Dreyfus University Center Laird Room.
Most guests and some University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point faculty and students advocated at booths for programs that would be happening in October. They organized the event to show just how accessible resources are to aid all disabilities, especially those of students, in Stevens Point.
Justine Horvath, program coordinator of the disabilities awareness fair and special education/ other health impairment assistant at Stevens Point Area Senior High, shared the purpose of the fair.
“We are inviting the campus to be aware of disabilities. They are not invisible and this should open people’s minds to be aware of their needs and for students to be aware of the services we offer,” said Horvath.
According to the UWSP Disability Services pamphlet, some of these services include class scribe volunteers for hearing impaired students, exam accommodations including proctors for students with ADD and/or ADHD, enlarged copies for the visually impaired, notification to professors of a condition, special campus orientation, sign-language interpreters and assistive technology. Apart from academia, there was a special presentation on adaptive kayaking on Oct. 7 in the UWSP Fieldhouse Pool.
“I like it because I use the service myself. They’ve helped me and now I want to give back,” said Horvath, a hearing impaired graduate student.
“For the resources to work in their full potential it takes the initiative of the participant and the open minds of the faculty along with other students,” said Horvath.
The fair kick-off and month-long surge of events started as just a dream of the Disability Advisory Council, a branch of the Disability Services office. Jim Joque, coordinator of the Office of Disability Services, said the Disability Advisory Council was very passionate about spreading awareness and opening minds.
11 faculty, staff and students on the council envisioned ways to make the campus, the community and the state a better and more equal place for all to succeed. This month they look forward to the fruition of their dream, and to the continued celebration of all abilities.
To join the celebration and get informed, visit www.uwsp.edu/special/disability/celebrate. To utilize accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 346-3365 or e-mail dissv@uwsp.edu.
