Yellow Springs, Ohio – Despite the passage of Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the fact that 19 percent of the U.S. population live with a physical or mental impairment that impacts their daily lives, people with disabilities are often still viewed as limited and less than whole. That’s the problem that an upcoming conference at Antioch University Midwest (AUM) will address in an effort to better understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities and empower everyone to embrace and value diversity.
Presented by Antioch University Midwest, The Human Relations Council of Yellow Springs and The National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton, Valuing Diversity: Reframing Disability is a two-day conference that aims to raise awareness about all types of disabilities – including mental illness and visible and invisible disabilities – that affect nearly 57 million Americans. Its offerings include educational workshops, screening of the film “Invitation to Dance,” and a keynote by Dr. Julie Williams, associate professor at the Wright State School of Psychology. She will share her views about the history and identity around “crip” culture, a term and movement that describes people with disabilities in both positive and negative ways, depending on whom you ask.
“We’re honored to host the Valuing Diversity conference for the second year in a row and AUM is an ideal environment in which to have these discussions because of our commitment to social justice and inclusion,” said Dr. Michele McMahon Nobel,
the director of AUM’s Division of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies and a member of the conference’s planning team. “We want to break down barriers and share strategies for understanding and supporting people with disabilities.”
Attendees may select up to four sessions organized by the following tracks: Making the Invisible Visible; Parenting Strategies; Instruction Strategies K-12 and Beyond; and Disability and Sexuality. Educators, counselors, parents and advocates from organizations across Ohio, including AUM’s Dr. Tammy Mojica, faculty in Education, will lead workshops on 16 different topics.
The conference will take place on December 9-10 at AUM, 900 Dayton Street in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The free community screening of “Invitation to Dance,” is from 6:30 – 9 pm on Wednesday, December 9 followed by a full day of conference events on December 10 starting at 8am. Registration for the conference is $125 for those who register prior to December 7; $145 for those who register between December 7 and 15; and $50 for students and seniors. The registration fee includes lunch, resource packets, entry to four sessions and a Certificate of Completion. CEU credits are currently pending. For a listing of the conference’s educational sessions, visit nccjgreaterdayton.org. Register online or contact Adriane Miller at amiller@nccjgreaterdayton.org or 937-222-6225.
About Antioch University Midwest
Antioch University is a bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education serving adult students around the world and across the country, online and from its five campuses in four states in addition to its University-wide international and doctoral programs. The University lives by its mission every day helping students realize their potential and succeed in their educational goals through an innovative learning environment that is rigorous and responsive to their needs. Antioch University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1927.
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