Adrian College Sponsors Disability Awareness Week posted 2/26/09
Numerous events scheduled to raise awareness about disabilities.

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College will host Disabilities Awareness Week 2009 Monday, March 9 through Friday, March 13. The following events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Come experience a disability with alumna Ashley Curtis in the presentation “Twenty-Four Hours” on Sunday, March 8 at 6 P.M. in Jones Hall room 204. Participants will have the chance to experience a disability for 24 hours. The event will conclude on Monday, March 9 at 6 P.M. in Jones 204. There will be a discussion before the event and after. Curtis, who is hearing impaired, will be facilitating the post program. This event will allow people to view our campus, and our world, from a different perspective and raise awareness about disabilities.

On Monday, check out performances by “Dancing Wheels”, a performing art troupe from Ohio. There are two performances available – 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. The one o’clock show is geared more toward adults. The morning show is still open (with limited seating) but is geared for elementary children. The shows will take place in Dawson Auditorium. Please feel free to check out their Web site at www.dancingwheels.org . Also on Monday, the conclusion to “Twenty-Four Hours,”-experience a disability- at 6 P.M. in Jones Hall room 204.

Join the HOPE Center and PAWS dogs in the Caine Student Center on Tuesday, March 10 from 12-4 P.M. for “Stations with Disabilities.”

Come to the Heritage Room in Shipman Library for “Artist Presentation Brown Bag” on Tuesday in the Heritage Room from noon to 1 P.M. In addition, the Arrington Ice Arena will host sled hockey Monday evening from 7-9 P.M. Sled hockey provides opportunity for many types of disabilities and there are many local areas that sponsor the sport for recreation/competition. Participants will be able to play and use special equipment to experience how a person with a disability plays hockey.

On Wednesday, March 11 at noon there will be Convocation with singing. There is also a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder panel at 3 P.M. in the Tobias Room. Dr. Michael McGrath, professor of history at Adrian College, will be facilitating the discussion. This panel will be compiled of people from all walks of life living with PTSD and talking about how they have survived.

Also on Wednesday there is an interviewing skills session and dinner for students with disabilities (special invitation only) with Shannon Martineau in the President’s Dining Room.

A luncheon with the new faculty orientation group will take place in the President’s Dining Room (special invitation only) on Thursday, March 12 at 12:00 P.M.

Come join Kay Ross for “Community Mental Health Panel” in the Stubnitz Room, Shipman Library from 4-5 P.M. on Thursday, March 12. Also on Thursday from 8-9 P.M. join in Goal Ball during “Party Sober Night” at the performance gym in the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center. There is also a luncheon scheduled on Thursday with the new faculty orientation group (by special invitation only) in the President’s Dining Room.

And on Friday, March 13 at 12 P.M. in the Hickman Board Room is the closing program for guests by invitation only.

In conjunction with the week, an art exhibit by David Wisniewski is running from March 9-25 in Shipman Library’s Heritage Room. Library hours are Monday through Thursday 8 A.M. to 11 P.M., Friday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Saturday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., and Sunday noon to 11 P.M.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Danielle Ward, Adrian College disabilities specialist, via e-mail at dward@adrian.edu.