Britt Berrett, clinical professor at UTD's Jindal School of Management, will be one of two keynote speakers at the AccessAbility Summit, October 13, 2014.
On Monday, October 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the University of Texas at Dallas is hosting its first annual AccessAbility Summit. Hosted by the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, the overall goal is “to change the attitudes, create new opportunities for dialogue, and place accessibility at the forefront of all of our decisions at UT Dallas and in the community,” according to the website.
While many colleges across the country have robust disability services and programs, it is refreshing to see a local university recognize the need to not only embrace diversity, but take steps towards improving education for those with a wide variety of disabilities. UTD approached me to speak at the event to discuss the nature of work done in self-advocacy for adults with disabilities, specifically in the My Possibilities continued education program.
The summit’s objectives will include:
1. Identifying areas of focus for improvement in 2014-2015;
2. Incorporating individuals with disabilities in the UT Dallas emergency planning process in order to ensure those needs are addressed during an emergency response;
3. Discussing and identifying how public transit and other forms of transportation can facilitate travel for people with disabilities around campus and the community;
4. And identifying the universal design approach for UT Dallas faculty to support all students.
No. 4 is especially exciting. For whatever reason, it is not assumed that all students need have access to higher education beyond the public school system. It has taken far too long already to address educational needs for students with physical, vision, or hearing disabilities. With the growth in the autism/Asperger’s diagnoses in the community’s youth, it is important that higher educational programs take the bull by the horns and address the need to incorporate real inclusive opportunities for these future students.
This event is free and open to the public, and will include a panel of representatives from different disability groups, including DMN Special Needs Insider Kristie Smith to speak on behalf of the event objectives. There will be opportunities to ask questions and engage UT Dallas in this process as well.
I hope the community will commend UT Dallas for their steps in ensuring an all-inclusive educational campus for students both with and without disabilities, and hope that we see this as the first step in a common trend in higher education.
For more information, visit the event’s official website. You can also click here to register.
Michael Thomas is a non-profit executive for My Possibilities, an organization that provides continued education with adults with disabilities in North Texas. He aspires to continue pushing for high-level education for all people with disabilities beyond public schools.