The accessibility workshop is a design workshop/brainstorming session meant to focus on the specific challenge of access, and will set the project on a course to meet and exceed accessibility goals. It will help transform the project from a static, complex issue to a successful, buildable plan. Oregon State University is committed to holding accessibility workshops for all major capital projects.

We expect roughly 15-20 participants that will consider the following topics during the session:
1. Define current conditions and OSU project expectations
2. Establish principals and goals for access, universal design and overall inclusiveness
3. Identify specific features for access

The workshop will engage the group in interactive discussions regarding the feasibility of implementing the topics and specific features discussed. In addition, the workshop participants will explore the opportunities and obstacles inherent in these strategies and decide what strategies and approaches would work best for the proposed project. The overall goal is for this project to be a model of excellence in accessible new construction at OSU.

We realize that this meeting calls for a commitment of time from already busy schedules; however, your insights are greatly needed and we hope you will consider joining in this effort as an important investment in our campus. If you cannot attend, please recommend others who can take your place. Also, please advise if we should invite anyone else.

Should you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to call Larrie Easterly, Project Manager for Facilities Services, at 541.230.0802 or by email at larrie.easterly@oregonstate.edu.

You are welcome to come at any time, but if possible, please RSVP by May 16, 2012 by contacting Gabriel Merrell by phone 541.737.3671 or email (gabriel.merrell@oregonstate.edu) to ensure we have scheduled a large enough space.

If you cannot attend you are welcome to submit comments to Gabriel Merrell. Please do so by the day of the event, so your comments can be incorporated into the conversation.

Sincerely,

Larrie Easterly, Gabriel Merrell & Opsis Architecture

DBT Skills
If you struggle with managing your emotions, have chaos in your relationships, or often find yourself engaging in impulsive behaviors, the Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills group is a place where you can learn new skills to build a life worth living. Members of the DBT skills group will learn and practice mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Group 1: Monday 12-2 (Emotion Regulation Skills). Contact Diana or Ali
Group 2: Wednesday 3-5 (Distress Tolerance and Mindfulness skills). Contact Diana

Managing ADHD: Strategies and Support
Group for graduate and non-traditional students to process their experiences at OSU. Time and Day: TBD Contact Salaheddine

Mind Over Mood
Learn different ways to manage your anxiety and/or depression through cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness. Contact Lilia
Group 1: Wednesdays, 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Meets weeks 3, 4, 5, 6,
Group 2: Wednesdays , 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Meets weeks 7, 8, 9, 10

Student Life with Bipolar Challenges
Vania Manipod, DO is a Psychiatry resident physician at CAPS and SHS. Join Vania in this supportive/educational group to discuss the challenges and strategies of living with bipolar disorder during the university years. Time and Day: TBD. Contact Vania

Social Skills
Do you feel shy and inhibited in your interactions with peers? This group helps with building self-confidence and learning how to connect with peers. Mondays, 4pm to 5pm. Contact Emi

Ableism is manifested in our society in a variety of ways. Thomas Hehir, a disability activist and scholar describes ableism as “the devaluation of disability that, resulting in societal attitudes that uncritically assert that it is better for a child to walk than roll, speak than sign, read print than read Braille, spell independently than use a spell-check, and hang out with non-disabled kids as opposed to other disabled kids” (Hehir, 2002).

There is an English proverb that states, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” American society attempts to condition children to be “tough” and to ignore hurtful words and actions. Unfortunately words do hurt, and negative words, bullying, and being insensitive can have a pervasive impact on individuals.

Whether the words are used unconsciously or consciously doesn’t reduce the impact. Solorzano, Ceja, and Yosso (2001) explain this using their term “microaggressions,” which are the unconscious, automatic, and subtle insults directed towards a minority group. The insults can be verbal, non-verbal or visual. Often times these insults occur without the offender even being aware that their actions are negatively impacting others.

Research has shown that the cumulative effect of microaggresions can negatively impact both individuals and communities. Pierce (1995) explains the impact of prolonged exposure to discrimination, “In and of itself a microaggression may seem harmless, but the cumulative burden of a lifetime if microaggressions can theoretically contribute to a diminished mortality, augmented morbidity, and a flattened confidence.”

Person First Language

A simple rule to follow when speaking about people with disabilities is to acknowledge the disability, but put the person first. For example: “Person with a Disability” rather than “Disabled Person.” Person first language is a term and a movement based out of the disability rights movement and other advocacy groups beginning in the 1980’s.

Person-first language has been prescribed by advocacy groups, universities, and professional journals and associations as a linguistic norm; however its use has faced criticism. C. Edwin Vaughan states, “Many blind people are proud of the accomplishments of their brothers and sisters. Just as black became beautiful, blind is no longer a symbol of shame. To say, “I am blind” or “I am a blind person” no longer seems negative to many, particularly those groups with existential interest in the topic” (Vaughan, 2009).

There is no hard and fast rule relating to political correctness or etiquette in relation to disabilities.  *The following table presents some terms that are considered to be discriminatory and some alternative language that is more inclusive.

Ableism and Language written by: Jennifer Gossett for the What is Ableism? Workshop on November 15th, 2010

References

Solorzano, D., Ceja, M., & Yosso, T. (2000). Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate. The Journal of Negro Education, Winter 2000(69), 60-73.

Pierce, C. (1995). Stress analogs of racism and sexism: Terrorism, torture, and disaster. In C. Willie, P. Rieker, B. Kramer, & B. Brown (Eds.), Mental health, racism, and sexism (pp. 277-293). Pitssburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Hehir, T. (2002). Eliminating ableism in education. Harvard Educational Review, 72(1), 1-33.

*Content for the table was collected and adapted from the following blogs:

http://disabledfeminists.com/2010/07/06/ableist-word-profile-special/

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2010/06/18/disability-terminology-a-starter-kit-for-nondisabled-people-and-the-media/

http://disabledfeminists.com/2010/05/17/guest-post-from-rmj-ableist-word-profile-crazy/

http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/12/04/ableist-word-profile-spazspak/

http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm09/bm0903/bm090309.htm

More resources

Online PDFs:

http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf

http://www.dads.state.tx.us/news_info/publications/brochures/931_people_first_language.pdf

Book: Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestation, Dynamics, and Impact, Edited by Derald Wing Sue

Websites:

http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/

http://www.asha.org/publications/journals/submissions/person_first.htm

The shutdown will begin immediately and we anticipate restoring services as soon as possible. A second notification will follow when services have been restored.

If you have any questions concerning this notification, please contact George Allen @ 737- 3310; if you have difficulty making contact and need further assistance, please contact Facilities Services Work Coordination Center @ 737-2969.

We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause you, thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.

U-Engage Peer Leader

U-Engage Peer Leaders work with a faculty member to coordinate a U-ENGAGE First-Year Experience course during Fall term. The U-Engage Leader position is not paid, but you can receive internship credit. Peer Leaders are also required to take a Spring Quarter training course.

START Leader

START Leaders work throughout the summer assisting with OSU?s orientation, advising, and registration program: START. START Leaders also have the opportunity to participate in CONNECT programs. START Leaders are required to take a Spring Quarter training course. This position is a paid position, with pay beginning during the summer.

For more information go to http://oregonstate.edu/newstudents or attend one of the information sessions below. Each session last about 30 minutes.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
4:00pm Student Life Classroom Kerr Admin B009

Monday, January 23, 2012
12:00pm Student Life Classroom Kerr Admin B009

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
5:30pm Student Life Classroom Kerr Admin B009

Applications are due on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Go to http://oregonstate.edu/newstudents to apply.

For any questions please contact New Student Programs & Family Outreach at 541-737-7627 or newstudents@oregonstate.edu

Through a discussion about the role of disability within the lens of diversity; we’ll explore possible similarities between the civil rights movement and the disability rights movement, and the intersection of concepts such as ableism and able bodied privilege. We’ll also approach disability as culture and the various models of disability in society today. Along the way, we’ll also address how we all play an important role in effectively engaging campus, and society, to break the norms that have placed barriers in front of people with disabilities.

Students, staff, and faculty are invited to take part in service projects throughout the morning at various nonprofits in Corvallis as well as in the large food collection project taking place in the afternoon from 1:00pm – 3:30pm. All transportation will be provided and all projects will meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

REGISTER FOR PROJECTS HERE: https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/main.aspx?SurveyID=4727.

Current MLK Projects for Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Stone Soup – serving meals
8am to 12pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 7:30am
5 volunteers needed

Community Outreach, Inc. (homeless shelter and human services for low income populations)
9am to 12pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 8:30am
Up to 15 volunteers (20 max)

Trillium Family Services (the largest mental health services provider in the State of Oregon)
9am to 12pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 8:30am
12 volunteers needed

South Corvallis Food Bank – painting floors
12:30-4:30pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 12pm
4 volunteers needed

Food Drive Bag Distribution
1:30pm to 3:30pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 1pm
Up to 100 volunteers
All food collected will be donated to the OSU Food Pantry and Linn Benton Food Share

Corvallis Parks & Rec – outdoor environmental work at Martin Luther King Jr. Park
1:30-4:30pm, meet at McAlexander Fieldhouse at 1pm
10 volunteers needed

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Emily Bowling at 541-737-7673 or emily.bowling@oregonstate.edu

Since 2004, Incight has awarded more than 540 scholarships between $500.00 and $2500.00. Of these students who have received our 4-year scholarship, we have been able to coordinate over 120 internships and generated full-time employment for 12 of those who graduated from college. Additionally, we have partnered with 25 different institutions who have agreed to match our scholarship dollar for dollar.

In addition to providing financial assistance, Incight proves to be a valuable resource to our scholarship recipients by providing continuous support during the transition from high school to college, in seeking accommodations and adjusting to the college environment, and transitioning into the employment sector following graduation.

For more information, please visit: http://www.incight.org/

We hope to foster rich, eye-opening conversations through several service projects, followed by lunch and a debrief activity. Afterwords, we will host several round-table discussions and informational sessions for students that will encourage personal reflection and civil discourse with one another on topics tied to the value of service, personal meaning, and diverse religious/spiritual beliefs and practices. We will conclude our time together with a reception and keynote speaker.

The conference is free, and morning snacks and lunch will be provided!

Register now at https://atrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9NChmWONDMewimE

Additional information, including a formal schedule, will be made available in the near future. If you have any questions, please contact Nicholas Martin or Hannah Pynn at the following email addresses:
Nicholas.Martin@oregonstate.edu
Hannah.Pynn@oregonstate.edu

Registration appreciated https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/main.aspx?SurveyID=4689

Accommodations related to disability may be made by contacting Michele at 541.737.2131 or Jodi Nelson at 541.737.0715 no less than one week prior to the event.Sponsored and facilitated by members of the OSU Campus Coalition Builders and the OSU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).