October is Disability Awareness Month

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:48:04 -0400
awareness, disability, equity, etiquette, hiring, inclusion, recruitment, retention, welcome

Americans with disabilities make up almost one-fifth of our population, which brings more celebration to this month, underneath the umbrella of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrating its 31st anniversary. This month includes:

ADHD Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dysautonomia Awareness Month

Learning Disability Awareness Month

National Disability Employment Month

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Spina Bifida Awareness Month

Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-9, NAMI)

World Cerebral Palsy Day (October 6)

National Depression Screening Day (October 6)

OCD Awareness Week (October 9-15)

White Cane Awareness Day (October 15)

Invisible Disabilities Week (October 16-22)

and given the beauty and complexity of being human, we respectfully nod to disability-related health conditions that are highlighted at other times. We see you. You matter.

Accessibility and Disability Services, remains committed to building on past progress and creating inclusive change as we work in partnership with the entire UMBC community, including Facilities Management, Human Resources and Instructional Technology. Student Disability Services provides support for students with disabilities, as education is a path toward progress. While huge strides have been made with accessibility and inclusion (which can happen via accommodation), people with disabilities still face discrimination and lack of understanding. and has many events planned - the fight for full inclusion remains (Judy Heumann Ted Talk link).

Accessibility and Disability Services

Faculty, staff and student employee accommodations

Accessibility Concerns (24/7 online form)

Student Disability Services

Requesting Accommodations

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Retriever Integrated Health includes The Counseling Cente r as counseling (of course) as well as events and group meetings

Retriever Integrated Health also has a range of health services that support campus members of all abilities in the new, very-accessible Center for Wellbeing across from Erickson Field (D7 on the map).

Student Organizations:

Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society for Students w/ Disabilities (next meeting October 7)

UMBC College Diabetes Network

Sign of Life (ASL/Deaf Culture)

Disability Advocate Union

Cancer Awareness Society

NAMI UMBC

Start a new student organization if this list seems incomplete!

Faculty Group: Disability Studies Working Group

A sampling of Disability Awareness Events:

Oct 7: Campus Accessibility Project Update and Discussion

Accessible Tech Wednesdays: October 12, October 19, October 26

Oct 14: Demystifying Disability: Student Recruitment, Hiring and UMBC's Workforce Recruitment Program (students and recent grads)

Oct 20-23: Superfest Virtual Film Festival

Oct 28: Accessible Route Trick-or-Treat Walk