Lawrence University Disability Working Group

05/29/2022

Summer housing has been highly discussed this year, with students raising concerns of accessibility. Read more about it in Joey Davis's article.

https://www.lawrentian.com/archives/1021748

Photo by Alana Melvin.

05/27/2022

End of the Year Celebration
This celebration is to highlight the accomplishments of our diverse campus community.
Come celebrate our seniors and recognize our students for their achievements this school year!
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022
Awards Ceremony
5-6 PM Warch Campus Center Cinema
Reception
6-7 PM Diversity & Intercultural Center
Food will be provided
Hosted by the Diversity and Intercultural Center
In collaboration with the Office OF Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

04/25/2022

The Columbia Student Disability Network and the Columbia Journalism School Alliance of Journalists with Disabilities are hosting a virtual panel with four autistic journalists – Eric Garcia, Sara Luterman, Zack Budryk and Charlie Stern – on Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 from 6 pm – 7:30pm (EDT).

04/02/2022

What are the differences between autism “awareness” and autism acceptance?

Autism awareness is learning about autism from neurotypical people and charities.
Autism acceptance is learning about autism from autistic people and autistic-led organizations.

Autism awareness stops after initial education.
Autism acceptance requires ongoing education and effort.

Autism awareness is ignoring bias and prejudice towards autism.
Autism acceptance is acknowledging, and working to overcome bias and prejudice.

Autism awareness is doing what everyone else is doing.
Autism acceptance is going outside the norm, and listening to autistic perspectives.

Autism awareness is comfortable and passive.
Autism acceptance is uncomfortable and active.

Autism awareness says that autism is the problem.
Autism acceptance says that ableism is the problem.

Autism awareness acknowledges neurodiversity.
Autism acceptance celebrates neurodiversity.

Autism awareness excludes autistic people from conversations about autism.
Autism acceptance prioritizes autistic voices in conversations about autism.

Autism awareness prevents meaningful progress and change from being made.
Autism acceptance contributes to impactful societal progress and change.

Autism awareness says, “I tolerate you.”
Autism acceptance says, “I welcome and appreciate you for who you are.”



[ID: A picture with a white background and black, bold text. At the top, there are depictions of images that are unhelpful and ableist to our community, including pictures of the 1963 National Autistic Society green puzzle piece with a weeping child, and the current Autism Speaks logo which is blue with a gradient of pink. At the bottom, there are pictures of images that are helpful to our community, including the rainbow neurodiversity symbol and the gold autism acceptance infinity loop, as well as the Autisitic Women's and Nonbinary Network logo and the red lightbulb for . Red text at the bottom reads, . The text is a bulleted list that reads,

"Autism "awareness" is
- Passive
- Requires no ongoing effort
- Comfortable
- Stagnant

Autism acceptance is
- Active
- Requires ongoing education and effort
- Uncomfortable
- Impactful

04/02/2022

"Prioritize and center autistic voices—not just during April, but any time there’s a conversation about autism or that impacts autistic people." -Alaina Leary

As a joke a few years ago, I posted on April 2 (widely celebrated as World Autism Awareness Day), “I think you’re all aware, but I’m autistic.” I was sick of seeing photos of non-autistic people on fundraising walks for autism awareness and explaining why many autistic people wouldn’t want...

04/02/2022

A reminder this

{image description:
Illustration of a person against a pale blue background. They are wearing a bright yellow shirt with a red infinity symbol on it with bright rainbow sleeves. They are wearing orange pants and a black belt with the infinity symbol on it. They are holding up a white square sign with dark text that reads:

Neurodiversity is for Everyone!

In the center bottom is a beige rectangle with a dotted border that says:

World Autism Acceptance Day
April 2, 2022

In the lower left is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a dragonfly on it and our website: awnnetwork.org }

02/19/2022

"Though opinions about what details should be included for those using screen readers diverge, most people agree on one point: that the presence of alt text is an important step toward making the internet more accessible."

-Meg Miller and Ilaria Parogni, "The Hidden Image Descriptions Making the Internet Accessible," New York Times.

The challenge of describing every image on the internet, and the people who are trying.

02/14/2022

Thanks to Kat Girod, a writer from The Lawrentian, for covering our film screening and discussion!

The Lawrence University Disability Working Group (LUDWiG) will be screening the documentary film “Crip Camp” on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in Warch Cinema.