Shippensburg University hosted a Disability, Diversity, Ableism and Inclusion panel as a part of Diversity Week Wednesday featuring Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) Director Shelbie D’Annibale and three students from the OAR board.
The board members shared their experiences living with a disability on campus, from fond memories of supportive staff members to disappointing instances of discriminatory institutional choices. Audience members were encouraged to engage and ask questions as well as contribute their own thoughts.
By and large, the panel shed light on issues that are not always easy to see. Shippensburg University has had incredible growth in accommodations in the past, but there are still improvements to be made. One of the speakers, Lillian Sellers, made the key point that disability awareness is far less helpful than disability advocacy and support. Fighting for proper accommodation access is never an irrelevant cause, as anyone can become disabled at any time.
A unanimously held opinion by the panelists was the wish for more solidarity on campus. One of the greatest needs from the student body currently is respect for both disabled students and their accommodations, a sentiment that is unfortunately not always upheld.
Alecia Andress, the panel representative for invisible disabilities, spoke on the importance of doing away with the excuse of “not knowing how to talk to someone disabled”, an ableist excuse that clearly indicates dehumanization.
Toni Jones, the third speaker, also included insightful points about the difficulties of facing disrespect from faculty members who refuse to acknowledge the impact of invisible disabilities.
Additional points were made about the frequent misuse and abuse of campus features, such as the kicking of door opening buttons and the unnecessary use of elevators by abled students. These actions actively detriment the lives of disabled students, and can lead to serious issues, such as being unable to exit the building in a timely manner.
The panel closed with an opportunity for questions from the audience, which ranged from humorous inquiries into pet peeves to more serious questions about the experiences of receiving diagnosis. To learn more about the OAR and how it helps students, visit 252 Mowrey Hall.
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