Turning obstacles into opportunity
(Oct. 2, 2008) October is Disability Awareness Month and the University of Colorado Denver is doing its part to ensure everyone knows what options are available for the developmentally challenged.
The month kicked off with the Disability Awareness Festival on Oct. 1 on the Auraria Campus. One of the largest events held at the Auraria Campus, more than 30 vendors were on hand to talk with you, live entertainment and free lunch for the first 700 attendees.
The fourth annual Art Ability at Auraria was Oct. 2 in the Tivoli Multicultural Lounge and the Auraria Library Gallery. Art enthusiasts checked out the extensive works and met the creators of “Auraria Students, Faculty and Staff Living with Disabilities” while enjoying refreshments.
Upcoming events include:
ü Every Move Counts Training, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6 – Thursday, Oct. 9, Denver Assistive Technology Partners, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Shore Family Forum, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
ü Assistive Technology for Writing Learning Lab, 2:30 -4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, Denver Assistive Technology Partners, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, 601 E 18th Ave., Denver
ü Assistive Technology Week: Gov. Bill Ritter declared the week of Oct. 12-18 Assistive Technology Week, recognizing AT devices that are used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
ü Assistive Technology Open House, 3-6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, Denver Assistive Technology Partners, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, 601 E 18th Ave., Denver
The Assistive Technology Partners Open House will include items found in an adapted home: toys for young children, communication devices for kids and adults, hearing options for phones, computer access devices, special software programs for the visually disabled, mobility devices and special kitchen tools.
ü Jonathan Mooney: 11:30 a.m. Oct. 23 in the Tivoli Turnhalle. Mooney, co-author of Learning Outside the Lines, is dyslexic and didn’t know how to read until he was 12. He was considered an academic failure who managed to graduate from Brown University at the top of his class. He will speak on the ability of students to individualize their education and attain academic success by enhancing academic skills in three primary areas.
ü Open House: The Disability Offices is holding an open house during Disability Awareness Month 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 16 in North Classroom 2514.
The UC Denver Open House will include a demonstration of the video remote interpreting system which is designed to give deaf students immediate access to communication (UC Denver is the first institution in the state to offer this), and a demonstration of how textbooks are reproduced into digital format. Talking calculators and reading pens (gives spelling, dictionary meaning, thesaurus, etc) will also be featured.
Photo: Lisa McGill, right, director of disability resources and services at UC Denver, explains how to work a reading pen.