Tag Archives: Alternative Programming

Misconceptions and Assumptions about Disability at Vassar

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What are some misconceptions or assumptions you think people at Vassar make about disability? I asked students this question and here are some of the things they said.

1.  There are few students with disabilities on campus.

This is in fact not the case, but the misconception is not surprising.  After all, the majority disabilities present on campus are invisible disabilities.  If students are judging the number of disabilities based only on what they can see, they will certainly not add up to many.

2.  Disability is a nuisance.

When discussing that little phrase regarding disability that we find at the bottom of all event posters, one student said, “I think it’s a really good representation of how this campus thinks about disability- as a legal, or bureaucratic issue, and not a part of our culture.  Or it’s not that we want to make campus inclusive for people with disabilities, but that we’re required to do this or spend this minimum amount of energy or else we’ll get sued by whoever.”

3. All students with disabilities are registered with AEO.

Some students might only think of students with disabilities in the context of AEO.  But there are many disabled students who are not registered with AEO.  Some do not register because they do not want to be identified as disabled, some do not believe they need accommodations, and others may not think that AEO can assist them.

So, what can we do to eliminate misconceptions on campus?  Students said that increasing the visibility of disabled students would help.  This might be done by helping them feel comfortable with having a disability.  Just the existence of ACCESS, the campus group for students with disabilities and allies, is helping students with disabilities on campus become more visible.  One of ACCESS’ recent initiatives, acquiring a disability cultural center on campus, would also help students think of disability as a part of the campus culture.  Having more discussions about disability and disability culture in the classroom also might help, especially during class discussions about other minorities, minority culture, race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, etc.

ACCESS update

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ACCESS, the Vassar organization for students with disabilities and allies, has been keeping busy! On Friday, October 5, ACCESS held a very successful game night in the Faculty Parlor in Main.  ACCESS’ began holding game nights to provide an alternative activity for students on Friday nights.  ACCESS’ next game night is November 16th.  Location TBD.

Dean Chenette’s recent curricular proposals have also caught ACCESS’ attention.  After discussing the changes, ACCESS has decided to write a letter to Dean Chenette in support of the reduction of the course credits required to graduate from 34 to 32.  With the current course credits requirement at 34, students have often elected to take more than 4 credits in a semester throughout their four years here.  ACCESS recognized that taking more than the standard 4 credits in a semester can often be more difficult for students with disabilities (for a variety of reasons).

Finally, as you all know, the Bookstore will be relocating.  This relocation will also bring a lot of other moving of offices and such.  With spaces opening up, ACCESS has taken this opportunity to push for a disability cultural center, similar to the LGBTQ Center, ALANA Center, and Women’s Center.  Why is ACCESS pushing for this kind of space? Here are just a few reasons:

1. Currently, there is no space on campus for students with disabilities.  Although AEO provides individual academic support and accommodations, there is no permanent, accessible, community space for social, educational, and cultural activities on disability issues for students and faculty.

2. Students with disabilities are an important group to recognize and support.  One in ten students on campus are registered with AEO and there are many more with unregistered disabilities or an interest in disability issues.

3. Disability cultural centers are beginning to pop up at colleges all over (including UC Berkeley, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Wesleyan, to name a few)!

4. It would provide students with a supportive, safe, and open space on campus that would foster a welcoming environment for the discussion, understanding, and support of disability issues and concerns.

Halloween alternative programming!

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On Saturday, October 27th, The Witching Hour, hosted by The Programming Board, took place in UpC from 9-10:45pm (before the Villard Room Halloween Party). There was a station to make your own flipbook, a candy table, donuts, make-your-own caramel apples, cider, and a costume contest with Vcash prizes.  The event ended at 10:45 so that people could head over to the Villard room if they wished or stay and to watch The Silence of the Lambs.  The event was perfect for anyone looking for something more low key to do on what is typically one of the craziest nights of the year at Vassar.