Grandma Builds Access Ramps with Legos in Hanau Germany Got Bricks? Raising awareness one colorful ramp at a time. HANAU, Germany (Reuters) Faced with rows of inaccessible shops and cafes, wheelchair user Rita Ebel has devised a low-tech high-fun solution - ramps made of Lego.

"For me it is just about trying to sensitize the world a little bit to barrier-free travel," Ebel said in the German town of Hanau.  She has been using a wheelchair since she was involved in a car accident 25 years ago.

Full article:https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lego-ramps-germany/german-grandma-builds-wheelchair-ramps-from-lego-idUSKBN20D1PU


Subtitled German video: https://www.reuters.com/video/?videoId=OVC1AB61Z&jwsource=cl (switch on audio for full German context)

Want to explore  where UMBC's accessible routes, ramps, and bridges are?  

Plan your outing with the accessible route map:  
https://about.umbc.edu/files/2019/10/accessible-map-10-22-19.pdf. 

UMBC's accessible map is updated annually within the Visitor's Guide Maps site.  Individuals with disabilities and groups who would like to be better allies may contact our office to schedule an accessible route tour, which can be customized to an individual's routine path of travel. Contact us via 410-455-5745 or slazar@umbc.edu

We also recommend that Accessibility Concerns be reported to our office via our online form: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/. Facilities Management handles repairs which can be reported by anyone via Work Control 410-455-2550.  The number is also posted on decals throughout campus.  We appreciate all who connect with these offices to support accessibility.

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Accessible routes and parking in the Commons Garage area have been available since the Interdisciplinary Life Science Building (ILSB) opened this Fall after three years of construction.  The attached document highlights how the accessible routes have expanded and shifted since the construction fencing came down this past summer.  If your event, classes, work, or other interests bring you to the East Side of Campus, take a look at the downloadable document to become familiar with updated options. 

Want to know more general information about accessible parking?  Parking Services has Accessible Parking and Medical Permit Parking options. If more information is needed, their website is linked below.  Not driving?  The Transit stops are shown as red bus icons, with a blue outline for additional MTA options.

Need to know more about accessible routes? The focused map section in the document is excerpted from UMBC's Accessible Route Map, which is posted on UMBC's Visitors Guide  Campus Maps website.
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https://youtu.be/DAS7SacuRHY

The captioned video is three and a half minutes covering her experience and spectacular journey from hating recess to loving the wind in her hair. The transcript is available here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/brief/318333/minda-dentler

As we raise awareness about the intersection of Disability with campus life, UMBC has an Adaptive Sports Committee, which works with students and also hosts adaptive sports events like wheelchair basketball (see postings here: https://www.facebook.com/umbcadaptivesports). If you, or your student group are interested in participating, reach out to the organizer via yomiyuf1@umbc.edu for more details.
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Diagnosed four years ago, Greta Thunberg has not let autism slow her down in her advocacy for people around the world to do their part in slowing down, or indeed ending, climate change.  She has organized student strikes, addressed Swedish Parliament, sailed across the Atlantic on a carbon-neutral sailboat, and most recently spoken in front of the U.S. House of Representatives and the United Nations.  Her ability to raise awareness about acting responsibly to end climate change has been very, very successful.  Additionally, her experience has also demonstrated possibility to others with autism and disability, as representation matters, not just during Disability Awareness Month, which starts tomorrow. Learn more about her work here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/greta-thunberg-schoolgirl-climate-change-warrior-some-people-can-let-things-go-i-cant


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/27/teen-climate-activist-greta-thunberg-inspires-others-aspergers-autism/3778356002/


Greta's global quest continues the legacy of people with a disabilities making the most of their circumstances, standing up and speaking up for initiatives that benefit communities, nations, and the world. Below are links to people with disabilities whose focus on ability has made a difference:

Helen Keller: avoiding war and preserving peace
Stella Young:  on respect and avoiding Inspiration Porn
ADAPT has spoken up for affordable health care and Medicaid
Senator Tammy Duckworth: preserving the ADA 

Feeling inspired?  If you or someone you know is a UMBC student with a disability, we are looking for a few good student (GPA of 3.1 or better is ideal) to join UMBC's chapter of DAPi, an international honor society.Reach out to them through the linked website below.  

Additional information about Disability Awareness Month events on campus is listed under the Events tab above and summarized here:   https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events/60435
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In our post-9/11 experience, we have more people, including more veterans, who have survived traumatic events and are navigating life with a disability.  Here are two examples:

Life with an invisible disability:  Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:  https://youtu.be/XFBlfzVveao *

Life after an injury: https://youtu.be/igIkKmMzuS4 *

Both videos include the journey from "before" to their current lived experience, including family caregiver perspectives.  Some of the experiences are similar for people who have survived trauma resulting in disability, such as being hit by a car as a pedestrian.  Both videos include people who may come to a campus for academic, work, and event purposes. What are the strategies they use to be successful that might work at UMBC?

Find support and ask for help.

When an incoming or current undergraduate or graduate student is working with a licensed health care professional (including VA providers) accommodations for academic life are requested through Student Disability Services: https://sds.umbc.edu.  The student accommodation process is available online through the website and is described here:  https://sds.umbc.edu/accommodations/registering-with-sds/

Students seeking local support can reach out to the Counseling Center and University Health Services

Employees with disabilities may also request work-related accommodations.  The process is available here: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/employee-accommodation-request/

For others who might want to help - the person with a disability takes the lead with asking for accommodation as a matter of respect and dignity. They are students and employees here because they have the qualifications for the role.  Accommodations are handled confidentially, so it is entirely possible that a classmate, workmate or a bystander might be the nth person to offer unsolicited advice for something that is well-covered.  How new is the person to their health condition? How new are they to UMBC? Is this related to your role with the person with a disability?  How new is a potential ally to working with someone with a disability?  This linked video helps those who are very new to engaging with people with disabilities. Do what you would do with anyone on campus: be present, listen, and reflect before acting, and ask the person involved. If it's a technical question, the disability professionals on campus are only a phone call away: 410-455-2459 or 410-455-5745.


Self-Care

Self-care on campus can include a variety of activities that are part of the UMBC Wellness Initiative: https://wellness.umbc.edu/  and are available to people of all abilities.  Some activities include taking a Zumba or Yoga class, as well as using the weight room or going for a swim at the RAC (the pools have lifts).  Taking a walk around the loop or on the CERA trail. Accessing resources through the Counseling Center, such as the Mind Spa is an option. 

Connecting with people who know the journey, including successes and struggles, can also be a part of self-care.  UMBC Student Veterans have more information and resources on their website:  https://veterans.umbc.edu/

Getting busy with other people can also help, and there are several service and social action student organizations listed here for joining or volunteering:  https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/studentorgs including Retrievets some are  health-related such as Red Cross and UMBC-NAMI, and much, much more. Just like they say on the airplane, take care of your own oxygen first.


Take good care, all!


As a community that cares, accessibility concerns, may be reported here:  https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/  If it is a repair, call it in to Work Control first: 410-455-2550, as they coordinate sending out the repairpersons.

*Both videos are from Sesame Street in the Community resources and are accessible for adults.  Their work is here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEgW3r4ytXwd9UfQySv_Nw and includes many, many videos that often involve muppets
]]> In our post-9/11 experience, we have more people, including more veterans, who have survived traumatic events and are navigating life with a disability.  Here are two examples: Life with an... https://accessibility.umbc.edu/ https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/86765/guest@my.umbc.edu/0a098c56989a098dda9d54145b9ded9a/api/pixel academic accessibility accommodation ally ask awkward care caregiving disability employment healing help invisible mobility normal parent power ptsd recovery reentry resources retrievets self selfcare social support tbi training veteran visible wheelchair work Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/xxlarge.jpg?1568747010 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/xlarge.jpg?1568747010 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/large.jpg?1568747010 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/medium.jpg?1568747010 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/small.jpg?1568747010 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/xsmall.jpg?1568747010 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/086/765/254927e467971f09f0c92f825b956c68/xxsmall.jpg?1568747010 1 0 false Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:08:25 -0400 Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:29:54 -0400 Paralyzed at 23 and Moving the World Over 40 Years Later Marca Bristo Disability Trailblazer Rest in Power
Paralyzed from the chest down in a diving accident at age 23, Marca Bristo became a staunch disability activist early in life, starting Access Living just two years after her accident in 1977. From there, her work expanded to the national and international stage.  She was an essential influence for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, and continued her advocacy for decades after it was signed into law.

Said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth: “Marca reached out to me during my first few months home after Walter Reed, and she has been a friend and counselor—especially on disability issues—ever since. Without Marca’s work over the last 30 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act would not be in existence and I would not be a U.S. Senator. Because she crawled up the steps of the United States Capitol to pass the ADA, I get to roll through its corridors to cast my votes in the U.S. Senate. While we have so much progress yet to make, the disability community can thank Marca’s leadership, activism and sacrifice for the more inclusive society we live in today. I was honored to call her my friend and will miss her dearly.”

She passed away on September 8, 2019 from cancer.  Additional information about Marca Bristo's trailblazing civil rights work  can be found on Access Living website's press release here:
https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/press-releases-and-statements/beloved-disability-rights-leader-marca-bristo-dies-at-66/

A brief video and interview with former U.S. Senator Harkin is contained within the linked website.  May she rest in power.
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