Diverse Learners Awareness Week - 2016

The first annual Diverse Learners Awareness Week took place April 18-22th, 2016.

Events from the first year included: 

  • Interactive demonstrations
  • Live-action theater
  • Assistive technology expo
  • Conference-style presentations and roundtable discussions
  • Film nights
  • Workshop on disability etiquette
  • Keynote speaker Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D., of University of Washington, April 22nd
  • Café Pédagogique event, sponsored by COLTT

Monday, 4.18.16

9:00 - 9:45 am, Center for Community (C4C) N215: The Impact of Poverty on Girls’ Education

Cyanne Stonesmith and Christie Cutler
Roundtable discussion

Join us for a conversation about the impact of poverty on education access, especially for vulnerable populations. This session will start with the example of the Sacred Valley Project, which works to provide access to education for girls from remote areas of the Andes in Peru, and will open out into a broader conversation with participants.

9:45 - 10:30 am, Center for Community (C4C) N215: A Team Effort: Student Athlete Academic Support System

Michele Brannigan and Jed Herb and Guests
Panel discussion

Join us for a panel with student athletes in looking at the multiple challenges that student-athletes face as learners with a variety of needs. We will discuss the various strategies that we use to stay organized and be successful and engage attendees in a discussion of other ideas for how to stay on top of the game.

1:00 - 1:45 pm, Center for Community (C4C) N215: “Priscilla Reporting…” A Non-Traditional Student’s Trials and Triumphs

Priscilla Carlson and Paul Daugherty
Roundtable discussion

Join us for an informal dialogue about being from a non-traditional background as a student with a physical, and later, with a cognitive disability, at the CU-Boulder campus. Trials, tribulations, and TRIUMPHS! What worked and didn't.

1:45 - 2:30 pm, Center for Community (C4C) N215: From Accessibility Policy to Action: Calling on Advocates to Accelerate Our Progress

Amelia Dickerson, Dan Jones, Esha Mehta, Konstantin Tovstiadi, Paula Vaughan
Roundtable discussion

We are a large campus with countless projects, systems, websites, applications and digital resources being used, created, acquired and enhanced on a regular basis. In this session, we will illustrate barriers that a blind or low vision student encounters with a poorly designed system and share ideas for how you can be an advocate for visually impaired students.

3:00 - 5:00 pm, Center for Community (C4C) JD Abrams Lounge: Affinity Arts Interactive Performance

A series of interactive sketches presented by Affinity Arts Consulting will serve as a launchpad for discussions about the tactics and tools needed to handle difficult situations that we face every day. The presentation and discussion will also provide practical guidance for interacting with diverse learners and creating inclusive learning environments. Light catered refreshments will be provided. This session is co-sponsored by the Chancellor's Accessibility Committee.

Tuesday, 4.19.16

9:00 - 9:45 am, Center for Community (C4C) N215: Free and Low-Cost Reading Tools for the Common Man

Susan Kelmer
Presentation

You don’t need a reading disability to benefit from text-to-speech or other helpful tools that work with technology we already use.  Beyond Siri, Cortana, and Google Assistant, what other tools exist that may help you get through reading materials more quickly? Find out!

9:45 - 10:30 am, Center for Community (C4C) N215: Campus Involvement for Non-Traditional Students: A Look at the Research and CU Findings

Catherine Weldon and Kristyn Sample
Roundtable discussion

Did you know? Fewer than 14% of transfer students participate in faculty-led research, however, those who do attribute much of their academic success to the experience. (pg. 7, Examining the Transfer Student Experience) We’ll take a look at some statistics around the non-traditional student experience and discuss the current climate at CU-Boulder.

1:00 - 2:30 pm, Center for Community (C4C) N215: Diverse Learners Awareness Week World Cafe

Alaina Beaver, Chrissy Harrison, and Scott Zeman
Roundtable Discussion

Join us for an interactive World Cafe on exploring the diversity of ways we learn and play at CU. Through meaningful conversation with other participants, we will explore how appreciating diversity and exploring access can lead to an understanding of inclusive excellence.

2:30 - 3:15 pm, Center for Community (C4C) N215: Diversity and the Intercultural Classroom: An Exploration

Susan Fouts and Adam Beaver
Roundtable Discussion

Join us for an exploration of international students’ diverse learning needs. We’ll touch on approaches to designing an intercultural classroom as well as how campus life outside the classroom impacts international student learning.

3:30 - 5:00 pm, Recreation Center, room C-240: Adaptive Sports & Film Screening

The short film, Gimp Monkeys, which follows the first three amputee climbers to ascend El Capitan, will be shown and then followed by a discussion facilitated by renowned climbers Craig Demartino (lead climber in Gimp Monkeys) and Malcolm Daly, and adaptive sports instructor Mike Neustedter. Learn how these three help others with physical impairments to fully participate in action sports like rock climbing and snowboarding. Following the discussion, there will be a demonstration of adaptive climbing techniques at the climbing wall.

Wednesday, 4.20.16

1:00 - 1:45 pm, Center for Community (C4C) S484: Captioning at CU-Boulder: Supporting Inclusive Excellence

Aisha Jackson and Mark Gammon
Presentation

Join us for a presentation that provides an overview of why captioning is an important feature of an inclusive environment at CU-Boulder and how the Office of Information Technology is pioneering a service for captioning as part of the Information and Communications Technology accessibility initiative.

1:45 - 2:30 pm Center for Community (C4C) S484: Basics of Universal Design and Accessibility in Practice

Alaina Beaver
Presentation

Learn about why accessibility is such a hot topic on the CU-Boulder campus and how Universal Design can help you reframe your approach to your work so that you are inclusive of all people with a diversity of needs.

3:00 - 3:45 pm Center for Community (C4C) N215: Allergic to Modern Life – Living with Chemical Sensitivities and the Fragrance-Free Initiative

Orrie Gartner
Presentation

Learn about what life is like for people who live with chemical sensitivities and allergies and how the Fragrance-Free Initiative is working towards an inclusive campus environment for all people.

3:45 - 4:30 pm Center for Community (C4C) N215: A Crash Course in Microaggressions

Samantha Williams and Kanani Sussman
Presentation

Join us for an introductory lesson on Microaggressions followed by a Q&A. We will be covering the basics of Microaggressions: a definition, examples, how to identify Microaggressions, how to address them, and how to be supportive of victims of Microaggressions.

Thursday, 4.21.16

1:00 - 1:45 pm Center for Community (C4C) N215: Case Study: Accessibility Critique of a Training Room on Campus

Amy Moreno
Roundtable discussion

In this session, participants will analyze the physical elements of a CU Training room to determine areas of opportunity for accessibility. In addition, a discussion will take place to determine the important aspects of training that need to be considered in providing Universal Design and accessibility for participants.

1:45 - 2:30 pm Center for Community (C4C) N215: Using Alternative Theoretical Lenses to Break Down Diversity Barriers

Zachary Foster and Guests
Roundtable discussion

Join us for a roundtable discussion that will examine academic theoretical lenses (Feminism, Disability Theory, Queer Theory, etc.) and apply them to real world situations. How are these theories helpful (or not), especially when considering the diversity of people on our campus?

3:00 - 3:45 pm Center for Community (C4C) N215: Disability Etiquette and Language Awareness

Valerie Hamilton-Brodie
Presentation

Persons with disabilities are one of the largest minority groups in America. Anyone enter disability at any point in their lifetimes. Come learn about how to use appropriate language when discussing or interacting with people who have disabilities.

4:30 - 7:00 pm, Twisted Pine Brewing Co.: Cafe Pédagogique

FREE event; registration required, 50-person limit

Join other professionals in a lively discussion about promoting accessibility and inclusivity in learning environments. This discussion format, made popular by the COLTT conference, will feature 3 facilitators: Alex McDaniel, Senior Online Class Developer and Interactive Applications Specialist of MSU Denver, Michael Erskine, Educational Technology Center Director of MSU Denver, and keynote speaker Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler of U. of Washington, a pioneer in the design of inclusive learning environments. Catered appetizers will be included as part of registration and Twisted Pine beer will be available.

Friday, 4.22.16

9:00 - 10:00 am, Wolf Law Building Lobby: Learning Technologies Expo

Light breakfast catering provided

Browse displays and demonstrations of various learning technologies used on campus including screen readers, robotics used in classrooms & distance learning, Braillers (braille typewriters), and more. You can also meet the staff of the CU-Boulder's Accessibility and Usability Lab and learn about the services the lab provides.

10:15 am - 12 pm (noon), Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom: Keynote: Sheryl Burgstahler

Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Keynote

The week’s keynote presentation by Sheryl Burgstahler, PhD., will focus on building inclusive learning environments using universal design principles. Dr. Burgstahler is founder and director of University of Washington’s DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center. Her presentation will be followed by time for Q&A and breakout discussions. This session will be live-streamed (with live captions) to other university and college campuses around the country to allow for wider participation.

Noon - 1:00 pm, Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom: Breakout Roundtable Discussions

Facilitators: Sheryl Burghstahler, Ph.D., Art Morgan, Alaina Beaver

Join us for roundtable discussions that help take the topics from our keynote presentation a bit deeper. Facilitated topics and breakout rooms will be announced and posted in Wittemyer Courtroom prior to the roundtable discussions.

6:00 - 9:00 pm, Center for Community (C4C) JD Abrams Lounge (3rd Floor): Intercultural Film Series Screening of The Theory of Everything

The Oscar-winning film, The Theory of Everything, will be shown (captions will be provided) as part of the Intercultural Film Series. The screening will be followed by a discussion about themes introduced in the film. Free pizza will be provided.

Considerations

From using assistive technologies and strategies for organizing information to shaping your own academic path through independent study, we each have reasons to honor diversity in learning. By celebrating our rich diversity of learners, the University of Colorado deepens its commitment to fully accessible learning spaces and inclusive excellence. Learn more about how you can get involved on the Diverse Learners Awareness Week page or by watching the promo video.

The Diverse Learners Awareness Week was made possible in part by the University of Colorado’s Diversity and Excellence grant. The week of events is co-sponsored by the Office of Information Technology and Disability Services. If you require accommodations for any of these events, please contact help@colorado.edu or 303-735-4357 (5-HELP).