disABILITY Advocate Program

1
disABILITY Advocate Program

• A Program of Services for Students with
  Disabilities at the University of Texas at Austin

2
Mission

• The disABILITY Advocate program promotes
  understanding and awareness about disabilities in
  order to create a more inclusive environment for
  people with disabilities at the University of
  Texas at Austin.

3
Advocate

• Verb to support or recommend publicly plead for
  or speak in favor of
• n 1. a person who upholds or defends a cause
  supporter
• 2. a person who intercedes on behalf of another

4
What is a Disability?

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• Disability
• 1 a the condition of being disabled
• b inability to pursue an occupation because of
  a physical or mental impairment
• 2 lack of legal qualification to do something
• 3 a disqualification, restriction, or
  disadvantage

• World Health Organization
• Disability Any restriction or lack (resulting
  from an impairment) of ability to perform an
  activity in the manner or within the range
  considered normal for a human being.
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• An individual with a disability is defined by the
  ADA
• as a person who has a physical or mental
  impairment that substantially limits one or more
  major life activities,
• a person who has a history or record of such an
  impairment,
• or a person who is perceived by others as having
  such an impairment.

5
Not So Uncommon

• You can become disabled from your mothers poor
  nutrition or from falling off your polo pony.
• And, since disability catches up with most of us
  in old age, it is a minority that we all, if we
  live long enough, join.
• (Joseph Shapiro, No Pity)

6
Disabilities All Around You

• 1 in 5 Americans has a disability (US Census,
  2001)
• The majority of disabilities are invisible
• A disability is only one aspect of a person
• You have more in common with someone with a
  disability than you have differences

7
Disability Models

• Biomedical/Rehabilitation Model
• Disability viewed as a problem to be fixed
• Society has no responsibility to accommodate
• Environmental/Social Model
• Disability caused/increased by environment
• Society/Culture creates limitations
• Minority/Human Variation Model
• Disability viewed as difference without judgment
  value
• Society accommodates differences

8

• Medical Disabilities

• Mobility Disabilities

• Can affect concentration, energy level, and
  physical function
• May fluctuate/change over time
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Chronic Migraines
• Narcolepsy
• Crohns Disease

• May use assistive device which is considered part
  of personal space
• Can be progressive/stable
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Neurological Conditions
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

9

• Psychological Disabilities

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Stigma associated with psychological disabilities
  is often greater than physical disability
• Majority of psychological/mood disorders first
  appear in late adolescence or early adulthood
• Depression
• Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorder
• BiPolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Eating Disorder
• Adjustment Disorder

• A continuum of symptoms and specific diagnoses
  that are identified by impairment in thinking,
  feeling, language, and the ability to relate to
  others
• People with ASD diagnoses are often incredibly
  bright but may be seen as a bit odd 
• Aspergers Syndrome
• Autism
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
• Autism is not a processing error, its just a
  different operating system."

10

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Learning Disabilities

• People with ADHD are often easily distracted and
  unable to focus and concentrate for sustained
  periods of time
• Not all people with ADHD are hyperactive
• Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder
• Hyperactive Type
• Inattentive Type
• Combined Type

• A Learning Disability does not mean a person has
  a low IQ
• A Learning Disability is diagnosed by looking at
  the discrepancy between a persons IQ and his/her
  achievement scores
• Reading Disorder/Dyslexia
• Written Expression Disorder/Dysgraphia
• Mathematics Disorder
• Learning Disability Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)

11

• Blind and Visual Impairments

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Find out individuals preferred mode of
  communication
• interpreter, writing on paper, reading lips
• Communication method may change depending on the
  environment
• one-on -one vs. group
• Hard of hearing partial hearing loss
• Deaf severe to profound hearing loss and rely on
  visual modes of communication, may identify with
  Deaf Culture

• Visual disabilities are not always obvious
• The person may move about without assistance and
  read printed texts
• Blind
• Low Vision
• Visually Impaired
• Visual Processing Disorder
• A Person who is blind/visually impaired

12
Disability Statistics at UT

• As of Spring 2011 there were 1687 students with a
  disability registered SSD
• This is only a fraction of the number of
  students, faculty, and staff on campus with a
  disability

13
Disability Statistics at UT
14
Language Awareness

• Terms such as impaired define someone by a
  characteristic that is lacking
• Most people are not offended by using phrases
  that focus on ability - run to the store, jump
  on that idea, Great to see you, Have you
  heard?

• Be aware of the words and phrases you use that
  may have negative connotations relating to
  disability
• Whats wrong with you?
• She must be off her meds
• Youre psycho
• Thats so ADHD
• You need to see a therapist
• That was retarded

15
Language reflects Attitude

• Preferred Terms

• Outdated Terms

• Person First Language mentions the person before
  the disability
• A person with a disability
• A woman with epilepsy
• Living with lupus
• Stroke survivor
• Uses a wheelchair
• Accessible parking/seating
• Able-bodied/without a disability
• Accommodations

• Emphasizes the disability first/Sees disability
  as tragic
• Disabled person
• An epileptic woman
• Suffering from lupus
• Stroke victim
• Wheelchair bound/confined to a wheelchair
• Handicap parking/seating
• Normal
• Special accommodations

16
Disability As Identity Marker

• Cultural/Minority Model
• Disability is not always viewed as something to
  be fixed
• No need to be sorry for someones disability
• Pride in Identity
• Deaf People prefer Deaf instead of Hearing
  Impaired
• Cochlear implants viewed as a threat to Deaf
  culture
• Disability as an aspect of diversity
• Services for Students with Disabilities brought
  into the Division of Diversity and Community
  Engagement
• Disability Studies is an emerging field of study
• Focus on history, art, research, laws

17
What Does Disability Look Like?
18
Assume Competence, Not Disability

• Disability does not always mean inability!
• People with disabilities can travel, play sports,
  have families, and pursue education and a career

19
disABILITY Advocate in Action

• How could you respond?
• Be supportive and empathetic
• Dont be sorry about the disability
• Respect privacy-dont ask for details about the
  disability or disclose information to other
  people
• What referrals could you make?
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Counseling and Mental Health Center
• University Health Services
• ADA Coordinator-Linda Millstone
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ombuds Office

• A student discloses to you that they are
  struggling in classes because of a disability.
• A co-worker reveals they are dealing with a newly
  diagnosed disability

20
disABILITY Advocate in Action

• A student with a D permit parks and appears to
  walk without difficulty into the nearest
  building. As the student passes you, you hear
  someone comment (loudly enough for the student to
  hear)I cant believe that some people are lazy
  and rude enough to use a handicapped parking
  space when they obviously dont need it.

21
Legislation Regarding Disability

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• "No otherwise qualified person with a
  disability in the United States shall, solely
  by reason of a disability, be excluded from the
  participation in, be denied the benefits of or be
  subjected to discrimination under any program or
  activity receiving federal financial assistance.

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Include proper access to electronic and
  information technology.  This requires agencies
  that develop, procure, maintain, or use
  electronic and information technology to ensure
  that the materials are accessible.

22
Americans with Disabilities Act

• Signed in 1990, most recent changes took effect
  in 2011
• Recognized people with disabilities as an
  oppressed group
• Designed to protect people with disabilities from
  discrimination
• Requires public places to become accessible

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has
  five titles
• Title I - Employment (all Title II employers and
  private employers with 15 or more employees)
• Title II - Public Services (state and local
  government including public school districts and
  public transportation)
• Title III - Public Accommodations and Services
  Operated by Private Entities
• Title IV Telecommunications
• Title V - Miscellaneous Provisions

23
Barriers for People with Disabilities

• Physical Barriers
• lack of ramps/elevators, visual/auditory/tactile
  signage, captioning
• Instructional Barriers
• Inaccessible course packets and materials, timed
  tests, iClickers
• Attitudinal Barriers
• discrimination, disbelief, prejudices, stereotypes

24
Reducing Barriers is Everyones Responsibility

• Housing and Food Services
• Information Technology Services
• Facilities Services
• Parking and Transportation Services
• ADA Coordinator
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Departments, Advisors, Professors
• You

25
disABILITY Advocate in Action

• You are planning a program/class/special event on
  campus.
• What are some things to take into consideration
  to ensure the event is accessible to people with
  varying abilities?

• Physical barriers
• Accessible space-room seating, Language access
• Instructional barriers
• Advertisements, Powerpoint/visual aids, handouts
• Attitudinal barriers
• No mention/offer of accommodations, unwilling to
  be flexible or adapt to meet different needs
• If you need assistance or accommodations, for
  this event please contact

26
The Bigger Picture

• People at UT are students, faculty, and staffwho
  may have a disability
• Assume competence and ability when working with
  people with disabilities

• Be aware of barriers and challenges facing people
  with disabilities
• Work to create inclusive programming, instruction
  and environments for people of varying abilities

27
Ready. Willing. ABLE.

• As a disABILITY Advocate I will strive to
• Promote inclusion
• Acknowledge and promote appropriate language use
• Accept and accommodate different needs and
  abilities
• See the person first, not the disability
• Recognize that disability comes in many forms

28

• Thank you for participating in SSDs disABILITY
  Advocate Program! With your help we can create a
  more welcoming, understanding, and inclusive
  environment for people with disabilities at the
  University of Texas at Austin
• For more information about the disABILITY
  Advocate Program or SSDs services please call
  512-471-6259 or visit us at http//www.utexas.edu/
  diversity/ddce/ssd/index.php