Location: CASE Building Chancellor's Hall and Auditorium
Keynote Address by Dr. Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Facilities for handling livestock that she designed are used by many companies around the world. She also has been instrumental in implementing animal welfare auditing programs that are used by McDonalds, Wendy’s, Whole Foods and other corporations. Grandin has appeared on numerous TV shows such as 20/20, Larry King Live and Prime Time. Her books include Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport and The Autistic Brain. Her book Animals in Translation has been on the New York Times Bestseller List. Temple was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in September 2017 and in 2022 was named a Colorado State University Distinguished Professor.
Learn more about Dr. Temple Grandin
Register here to join in-person.
Join via Zoom here.
Location: in-person and virtual via Zoom
9–10 a.m. Disability, Inclusion and Belonging in the Classroom
This proposal outlines a comprehensive plan for promoting disability inclusion and belonging in the classroom. It is vital to create an environment where all students, including those with disabilities, feel valued, supported, and included in the learning process. By implementing inclusive practices, such as universal design learning, we can ensure that every student has equal access to education and feels a sense of belonging within the classroom community.
Presenter: Robin Ennis
Location: IBS 150
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsduusrToqHdNgWGAtV-pqw7C_fx8vjtpL
10:20–11:20 a.m. Experiences and Survival Techniques of Graduate Students with Disabilities
The higher up in university systems you are, the less likely you are to report disability. Graduate students have particular challenges. These arise, in part, from being both an employee and a student. For example, as a graduate student, you may need accommodations for work (whether research or teaching) and for classwork. This means that there are two separate systems for accommodations that you have to file through. To combat the marginalization of these experiences, join a panel of disabled graduate students who will speak about their experiences at CU and provide insight into what has worked well for them and how they have managed to survive and thrive against the odds.
Presenters: Loren Hough and Sonja Benton
Location: IBS 150
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvdOCtrD4oEtzZp369zO7xksDK5xmWZRfK
2:30–3:20 p.m. Redefining Productivity: Cultivating Inclusive Work Relationships in a Diverse Campus Culture
When building work-focused relationships, does productivity have to be at the center? Often, societal thinking around productivity, time, and work reveals biases that discount the experiences of disabled individuals. For those working with chronic illness or a long-term disability, the experience of work and the meaning of productivity may be very different. Through this presentation, we will give suggestions on how to create a more inclusive and positive campus culture. Through the lens of Relationship Theory and Crip Theory, we hope to challenge the “normative and normalizing expectations of pace and scheduling,” (Abes & Wallace, 2020) in both our own views and the ways we build relationships. How can our relationships be built in meaningful ways to consider our biases and make our workspaces more inclusive for everyone? By attending this session, participants will have the opportunity to examine their personal biases, reflect on their workplace relationships, and learn new strategies to best support themselves and their peers.
Presenters: Charles Eagan, Tabitha Lannom, Callan McNamara and Megan Rogers
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tf-yopzwtGNKgTCjmvQrR8mboS9DVPDVu
9-10 a.m. What Is Disability Anyway?
Join us as we examine how we define disability and the implications of the decisions/policies/attitudes we make and have as a result of how we conceptualize disability. I will focus on four models of disability that are present and influential in society today, and then look at how they play out in a variety of realms such as employment and the pandemic. Through examining the premises upon which we shape our interactions with disability, I want to challenge some of what people think they know about disability. Through challenging assumptions, I hope people can become more aware of ableism, one of the less acknowledged and challenged "isms."
Presenter: Amelia Dickerson
Location: IBS 150
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwod--przMjG9HDMh7cXk90QW3rJdSvf1Na
10:20-11:20 a.m. Accessibility in Language Teaching
This presentation will discuss the principles of accessibility for language teachers. It will include examples of changes in course and material design that language teachers can adopt to make their teaching more accessible to all students.
Presenter: Alla Savelieva
Location: IBS 150
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrf--hrzgrGdUY84kUFNM7ZY-Bhrexp_pU
12:30–1:30 p.m. Education Equity for Neurodiverse Students
Join us for a panel discussion about intersecting identities in professional and academic settings. This presentation will be moderated by Liz Coan, PsyD, clinical psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and director of the Pediatric Care Network Autism Program, and Leaf Shafer, autistic mentor and advocate. Panelists will include members of the Autistic Mentorship Group, established in the spring of 2024 through grant support in affiliation with Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Hayes Fund. Non-autistic teachers and academic professionals need guidance from members of the autistic community when considering the best strategies to support learners with neurodiverse profiles. This program will create an opportunity to share with, listen to and learn from a community of individuals who are navigating the same terrain.
Presenters: Liz Coan, PsyD, and Leaf Shafer
Location: IBS 150
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuc-mpqz8jHNPo9EaNTzh_RTUJdV34EumT
1:50-2:50 p.m. Creating An Inclusive UCDenver Campus. Modeling a Network Approach for Change
This presentation outlines the work and the ongoing experiences of the Accessibility Operations Taskforce at the University of Colorado Denver. Composed of students, faculty and staff, this organization was created two years ago with the goal to compile information about problems, required actions and best practices, organize events, and develop accessibility programming—all to move the campus from a medical compliance perspective to a social model of disability with the goal of greater inclusion of disabled students, faculty and staff. The presenters argue that a network approach to creating an inclusive campus can be successful because it creates shared responsibility for change, allows for adaptation at different levels and creates opportunities for sharing information about best practices between diverse actors.
Panelists: Dr. Colleen Donnelly and Dr. Thorsten Spehn
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlfu6srT8rG9z2UfNYJrf1s-3mMTnx3sGM
9-10 a.m. Breakfast and Coffee with the University Libraries
Please join us for conversation, community and a light breakfast sponsored by the University Libraries.
Location: IBS 155A
Host: Liz Novosel
10:20-11:20 a.m. Access+: Fostering Inclusion and Support for Students with Disabilities at CU Boulder
Embracing the diversity within our student population, the University of Colorado Boulder is committed to nurturing a sense of community and belonging for all. Disability Services is proud to introduce Access+, a center designed to address the distinct challenges faced by students with disabilities on campus. Join us as we explore the significance of community-building and initiatives hosted in Access+ to foster a supportive environment and offer tailored programming for these students.
Panelists: Ulises Mendoza and Jack Elkins
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pde6sqTwtGNQsF3__UqlNY69Me62yrcUd
12:30-1:30 p.m. Just Keep Walking: Understanding the challenges and supports needed for anxious, autistic young adults navigating life beyond high school
In this presentation, we will:
1. Provide background knowledge about the science of anxiety and anxiety disorders. We will present the most common types of anxiety disorders in the general population and those that occur more specifically among autistic people.
2. Explore characteristics of autism, including differences in thinking style and skills, that may contribute to higher rates of anxiety.
3. Preview evidence-based anxiety treatment approaches and adaptations that enhance outcomes and applications to the post-secondary setting.
4. We will offer examples of supports that patients and families have found to be useful in their efforts to move toward greater belonging, well-being, and academic outcomes.
Panelists: Lisa Hayutin, PhD, Lindsey DeVries, PhD, Caitlin Middleton, PhD, and Deepika Patel, PsyD
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsfuqpqDIsHdVW_HEjqKfd_LYo9FZOrsgr
1:50-2:50 p.m. Empowering through Employment: Fostering Competency, Changing Perceptions, and Enhancing Community Belonging for Individuals with Disabilities
Join this dynamic presentation exploring the vital intersections of inclusion, disability, and community engagement. We'll review the concept of Social Role Valorization, highlighting the significance of community belonging and engagement in enhancing quality of life and how employment is a driving factor.
Discover how fostering competency and changing perceptions can promote social roles and empower individuals with disabilities to advocate for themselves, leading to more fulfilling lives. Engage in activities illustrating the impactful role of connections for community belonging.
This session will also explore the social determinants of health and the empowering journey towards self-determination, with a focus on intersectionality and disability to create pathways to employment and overall well-being.
Panelists: Brian Dean, MA, CRC, and Vikki Ortiz, MS, CESP
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYrceGvqTIqE9RlbqNUjNFfBtCBODk8oJLg
9:40–10:40 a.m. Understanding the Barriers to Academic and Social Success for Disabled Veterans
Exploring military culture and veteran experiences not only confronts the biases, stigmas, and stereotypes about the military and veterans that pervade academic spaces but also highlights the critical intersection of disabilities with veterans' identities. This intersectionality often exacerbates challenges in academic settings, where disabilities—whether visible or invisible—are not fully understood or accommodated, intersecting with and amplifying the existing misconceptions about veterans. Recognizing and addressing the nuanced needs of veterans who navigate both their identity as former military personnel and their experiences with disability is essential in creating genuinely inclusive educational environments. This approach allows for a more comprehensive support system that acknowledges the full spectrum of veterans' experiences, aiming to dismantle barriers and empower veterans to succeed academically.
Presenter: LaChaune DuHart-Wood
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcufumurzMpHt3uN3EwRyMC5jwfTDOYFG06
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Let the Herd Be Heard: The Perspective of People with Disabilities at CU Boulder As Provided by The Association for Students with Disabilities
Our presentation focuses on a detailed question and answer session hosted by our organization. We’ll specifically focus on several topics of interest that will help attendees better understand the perspective of disabled students at CU Boulder. Topics of discussion will include communication conundrum, listen and learn, addressing accessibility and intersecting identities.
Panelists: Casey Boyd (moderator), Maya Ornstein (panelist), Orion Carpenter (panelist), Charli Zern (panelist) and Cameron Mathis (panelist)
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYscO2trzksHNXRIVVTJH_BZbQt2LNUD23V
12:30-1:30 p.m. Bind It Together: Medical Self-Advocacy
Join us for a workshop where we will talk about the experience of being queer and disabled, finding community, and advocating for ourselves. You will come away with resources to build your own medical binder (including materials), as well as some knowledge about how we have used these sorts of binders for self-advocacy. This workshop will be particularly tailored for participants that identify as under the queer and/or trans umbrellas, as well as under the disabled umbrella. Some topics of discussion will include: using a binder to help in emergency situations, keep track of treatments you have tried, provide background on lesser-known medical conditions/realities (i.e. rare illnesses, intersex bodies, transgender bodily terminology), remind you of areas of concern or specific medical recommendations, log your emergency contacts/allergies/conditions, and ease anxiety before an appointment.
Panelists: Sonja Benton and Ray Groshan
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlfuGrrjMiHNHpJdzSjxS4oigZSM5AKmN1
1:50-2:50 p.m. Sign Connections: Empowering Colorado Communities through ASL and Deaf Culture
This presentation is a review of our project that has been grant funded by a CU Community Impact Grant. At the time of the symposium, the class that we are sponsoring will have concluded. We'd like to review how the class/project went, along with an overview of the impacts of the project. As we describe our project: "At the heart of CU Boulder's longstanding commitment to community impact lies our project, Sign Connections: Empowering Colorado Communities through ASL and Deaf Culture. Our initiative, in collaboration with the Colorado Association of the Deaf, exemplifies CU Boulder's ethos of outreach and engagement. By creating and offering a free and comprehensive ASL crash course, we hope to empower rural and urban community members while fostering inclusive connections and advocating for the civil rights of Deaf individuals. Grounded in linguistic and cultural scholarship along with strategic partnerships, our project aligns with CU Boulder's mission to address public needs and strengthen relationships across Colorado."
Panelists: Mindy Elizabeth and Pamela Macias
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsfuurqjktG9RrWRYfpnChzgrHcAEL4FfJ
3:30-4:30 p.m. What Would a Disability Serving Institution Look Like?
Panelists: John-Michael Rivera, dean of arts and humanities; Tony Price, director of Recreation Services, and Dr. Scott VanLoo
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAscuGsqzgpHtK6KlE-csWT0ZS85CrSqqTw
9–10 a.m. Adjust your Teaching by Knowing your Students' Brains
In this presentation, we will interact with the Neurosequential Model and discuss how making adjustments to your instructional delivery can make a huge impact on student success. We will discuss the research related to student anxiety as well as what you can do to make your classroom a psychologically safe space.
Presenter: Scott VanLoo
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsdu-uqDsoE9b8tIWnJwBIQ4kTUrD1X3X3
10:20-11:20 a.m. Inclusive Engagement: Insights from LDT Learning Agency's Digital Accessibility Practices for Belonging
Higher education institutions play a crucial role in cultivating an environment where every individual feels a sense of belonging. However, achieving this goal requires more than just rhetoric; it demands concrete actions to ensure accessibility for all members of the academic community. This presentation delves into the significance of developing accessibility initiatives within higher education settings to foster a culture of belonging. We will explore the various dimensions of accessibility, including physical, digital, and socio-cultural aspects, and how each contributes to creating an inclusive campus environment.
Panelists: Rosanna Miiler Salas, Laura Paciorek and Allison Yoo-Babbitt
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMpd-yhrzkoGtQ0mAfbVsGd9106hcHX7iCw
12:30-1:30 p.m. Student Testing Center: A Resource for Accommodated Students
As it appears to be a common question for both faculty and students alike, this presentation will highlight what the Student Testing Center is, how we operate, how students can get registered for usage of the Student Testing Center and how faculty/students can use the Student Testing Center as a campus resource.
Panelists: Tyler Grossman and Kelly Throckmorton
Location: IBS 155A
Click here for in-person registration
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpdO-hqzIjHdXC0ks6TvrmP01Oqx4b2aZy
1:50-2:50 p.m. Identifying Ableism
This presentation introduces people to the fact that many of those with disabilities on campus have hidden disabilities (learning, chronic conditions, etc.) and so being aware of our ableism practices becomes even more important. We will identify ableist practices and language and engage in a discuss on how to combat these practices in our university.
Panelists: Dr. Colleen Donnelly and Dr. Thorsten Spehn
Zoom registration: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvd-CoqDsvH9WRCt1ylalWDQ7k8xAxuTdu