Adrian College Sponsors Disability Awareness Week 2010 posted 2/8/10

Adrian, Mich. - Adrian College will host Disabilities Awareness Week 2010 Saturday Feb. 20 through Friday Feb.26. The following events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

To kick off the week on Saturday, Feb. 20, come join classmates for the Adrian College Bulldogs Polar Plunge in Jackson. This event is new this year and all funds will go to the Special Olympics.  Each plunger’s goal is to raise $50 to donate to Special Olympics. M Vans have been reserved to take students to and from the event and any interested parties may contact Danielle Ward, Adrian College Disabilities Specialist, at (517) 265-5161 ext. 4094 or via e-mail dward@adrian.com.

On Sunday, come to Jones 204 at 5 P.M. to experience a disability for 24 hours. Students can experience deafness by wearing earplugs or ear muffs. Students may also experience the use of a wheelchair or sling on their dominant hand for the event. This event will allow people to view our campus, and our world, from a different perspective and raise awareness about disabilities. The event will conclude on Monday Feb. 22 at 5 P.M. with a follow-up meeting to discuss participant’s experiences. Anyone wanting to participate must get in touch with Danielle Ward before hand to make arrangements with professors.

On Monday you can come to Dawson at 7 P.M. to watch “The Horse Boy”. This movie runs 93 minutes and is a prelude to the convocation speaker on Wednesday. Rupert Isaacson is the author of the very successful book and movie that chronicles his family’s trek through Outer Mongolia on horseback in an attempt to find healing for their autistic son, Rowan, a quest that changes their lives, forever. Therapeutic riding is a widely accepted therapeutic modality that had proven successful in the treatment of a number of physical and emotional challenges. Admission to the exclusive showing of “The Horse Boy” is a $5.00 donation to Lenawee Therapeutic Riding. Lenawee Therapeutic Riding is a NARHA Premier Accredited Center serving Lenawee County for over 20 years.

Tuesday there will be four different activities throughout the day to attend and all of them are free to students. First, from 11 A.M. to 12 P.M. come to Caine for a chance to experience the Stations with Disabilities. This event is sponsored by the HOPE Center and has been very popular amongst students. After the Stations with Disabilities event hang around Caine to meet the PAWS Dogs.  Also going on in Caine from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. come out and meet members of ASA and ATO for the campaign “Stop the R Word.” Students can sign a pledge to do their part and stop the inappropriate use of this word in our everyday lives.

In addition to these events Arrington Ice Arena will host sled hockey Tuesday evening from 7-9 P.M. Sled hockey provides the opportunity for many different people with disabilities to get out and have some fun.  Many local areas sponsor the sport for both recreation and competition. Participants will be able to play and use special equipment to experience how a person with a disability plays hockey.

On Wednesday, students and the general public can come to Dawson at 12 P.M. to see renowned convocation speaker Rupert Isaacson.

On Thursday, come join Kay Ross for “Community Mental Health Panel” in the Heritage Room, Shipman Library at 1 P.M. This event will feature guest speakers from the community to discuss and bring awareness to the often difficult topic of mental health disorders. 

Also on Wednesday will be the popular event Goal Ball from 8-9 P.M. and Party Sober Night in the Performance Gym at the Merillat Sport & Fitness Center, located off of Charles Street. A demonstration will be held before the game kicks off at 7:30 P.M.

Earlier in the evening participants and guests of the Delta Alpha Pi sorority will be honored at an initiation dinner. While this event is not open to the public it is an important opportunity to recognize students on our campus with disabilities that have at least a 3.1 GPA and a minimum of 24 credits.

Friday at 12 P.M. will be the official closing program lunch for guests by invitation only in the Tobias Room at Ritchie Marketplace. The closing program will feature one student and one faculty member receiving an award for going above and beyond to help students on campus that have disabilities.

In addition to these events there will be videos showing outside of the Academic Services office in Jones Hall all week. By featuring videos about people with disabilities students can catch a brief glimpse into life with a disability and what people with disabilities must overcome.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Danielle Ward, Adrian College Disabilities Specialist, at (517) 265-5161 ext. 4094.or via e-mail dward@adrian.com