Disability Awareness Month, 2004
"Ready, Willing, and Able"
April 13th - April 23rd
Tuesday, April 13th
Promoting Harmony Between Horse and Human
7:00pm-8:30pm, Stock Pavilion (on Pennsylvania Ave. just East of the Law Building)
Horse Trainer Michael Richardson will introduce his methods and philosophies with the goal of creating a more harmonious relationship between horse and trainer. After a jeep accident left Michael a paraplegic, he discovered he had to approach horsemanship from a new perspective - a perspective which taught him a better and more positive way to communicate with horses.
Saturday, April 17th
Boccia Tournament
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Kenney Gym 1402 W. Springfield Ave.
The University of Illiois Boccia Club will take on the Western Dupage Special Recreation Association's Boccia Team in head to head and team competition. Participants are welcome to try the sport or just watch and cheer on the players.
Sunday, April 18th
26th Annual Wheel-a-thon
10:00am-4:00pm, U of I Quad (rain site is the Armory)
The Wheel-a-thon allows the opportunity for students and members of the community with and without disabilities to solicit pledges for laps around the Quad in a wheelchair. Half the proceeds raised are donated to a local or national organization that serves the needs and interests of persons with disabilities. The other half supports the activities that DSO does throughout the year like the annual holiday party for children with disabilities. Wheelchairs will be available on site.
"In the Now" A One Woman Play
4:30pm, YMCA Latzer Hall, 1001 S. Wright St.
The play features Terrylene, a deaf actress who has appeared in many films, television roles and theater. This play is her story of recovering from childhood sexual abuse. The play will be done in American Sign Language with a voice actor interpreter. This is in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Monday, April 19th
Michael J. Ellis Distinguished Lecture Series: Computers and Stroke Rehabilitation: What is the Future for Rehabilitation?
3:00pm-4:30pm, Huff Hall Auditorium, 1206 S. Fourth St.
Aphasia is the loss of language due to acquired brain injury. Dr. Weinrich's lecture will trace the development of our understanding of aphasia and therapeutic tools for treatment. The construction of computerized tools for aphasia treatment will be discussed.
School Experience
All Week Long - various times , Local elementary schools
Delta Sigma Omicron is offering several activities to the local schools for promoting disability awareness. Members will be playing wheelchair basketball, talking about their disability, reading to students, and teaching adapted physical education in regular PE classes.
Tuesday, April 20th
Broomball
4:00pm-5:00pm, UI Ice Arena
Come and join the fun at the ice arena. Bring your friends and put together a team for an exciting game of broomball. Everyone is welcome. Wheelchairs will be available.
Wednesday, April 21st
Bowling
6:00pm -8:00pm, Illini Union Bowling and Billiards
Lanes will be available for bowling enthusiasts. Bring your friends or come on your own, all are welcome. Ramps and railing will be available for accessibility.
Thursday, April 22nd
AbilityLinks Seminar
7:00pm-8:00pm, Rm. 136 Rehab Education Center, 1207 S. Oak. St.
AbilityLinks is an internet-based advocacy organization which links employers, service providers, and qualified job candidates with disabilities. Patrick Maher, Information and Referral Counselor, will speak on the subject of this unique professional resource.
Friday, April 23rd
Air Rifle Demonstration
5:30pm-7:00pm, Basement, Rehab Education Center, 1207 S. Oak St.
Challenge yourself and your accuracy. A sport for everyone, air rifles are recreational and competitive. Our restored rifles will test your concentration, steadiness, and focus.
Saturday, April 24th
March of Dimes WalkAmerica
8:00am, Centennial Park Pavilion
"Use your feet to give premature babies a hand." Join members of Delta Sigma Omicron and hundreds of Champaign-Urbana residents for a morning of fun, exercise and entertainment. For more information, please call the March of Dimes office at 359-6386
Friday, April 30th
Michael J. Ellis Distinguished Lecture Series: Supporting Persons with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education Settings: Looking Beyond Basic Compliance
3:00pm-4:30pm, Huff Hall Auditorium, 1206 S. Fourth St.
Because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) focuses on creating equal access rather than supporting programmatic success, rarely have postsecondary education institutions focused upon the quality of services, supports, and accommodations provided to persons with disabilities. For the past five years the National Center for the Study of Postsecondary Educational Supports at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has focused upon collecting data regarding the quantity and quality of educational support provision in postsecondary education settings. Dr. Stodden will discuss recommendations and strategies for assessing the quality of supports and services for optimizing admission, retention, completion and subsequent employment rates for students with disabilities in postsecondary educaiton.
Tuesday, April 24th
Dr. Jay Martin Lecture
12 to 1 p.m., Deere Pavilion
Dr. Jay Martin, a professor of engineering from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison, will be making a brown-bag lunch presentation on the design factors
involved in power wheelchairs on Tuesday, April 24 from 12-1 pm in the Deere
Pavilion (second floor of the Annex of the Mechanical Engineering Lab building)
on the UIUC campus.
Everyone is also invited to stay and chat with Dr. Martin after the presentation.
