One of the primary goals of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is to reduce stigma and misconceptions surrounding developmental disabilities. Individuals with disabilities often face discrimination and social exclusion due to negative stereotypes and assumptions. National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month seeks to challenge these stereotypes and promote a more inclusive and accepting society for individuals with disabilities. It also provides an opportunity to highlight the achievements and contributions of individuals with disabilities in various fields, from arts and sports to business and politics. By promoting disability awareness and education, National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month helps to reduce stigma and encourage a more inclusive and accepting society for individuals with disabilities.
Universities are responsible for creating inclusive and accessible environments that do not perpetuate ableism. Ableism, also known as disability discrimination, is a form of prejudice and discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
Universities can play a vital role in rejecting ableism by creating an inclusive and accessible environment. One-way universities can do this is by providing accommodations for students with disabilities, such as accessible campus facilities, assistive technology, and academic accommodations. These accommodations ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to educational resources and opportunities.
Furthermore, universities can reject ableism by promoting disability awareness and education. This includes providing disability-related resources, such as counseling services and workshops, and creating disability-related courses and programs. By promoting disability awareness and education, universities can help to reduce the stigma and misconceptions surrounding disabilities and promote understanding of disability culture.
One of the key resources offered by UNC is the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC provides a wide range of services and accommodations to support students with disabilities. These services include academic accommodations, such as extended time on exams, note-taking assistance, and access to assistive technology. The DRC also offers disability counseling, disability advocacy, and disability-related workshops and events.
UNC also offers accessible campus facilities and technology to ensure students with disabilities can fully participate in campus life. For example, campus buildings are designed to be accessible to individuals with mobility impairments, with features such as wheelchair ramps and elevators. UNC also offers accessible technology, such as screen readers and captioning services, to ensure that students with disabilities can access the same academic resources as their peers.
In addition to these resources, UNC offers disability-related scholarships and financial aid to support students with disabilities. These scholarships and financial aid programs can help to offset the costs of disability-related expenses, such as assistive technology and disability-related medical expenses.
Universities have a responsibility to create inclusive and accessible environments that do not perpetuate ableism. By prioritizing accessibility, promoting disability awareness and education, prioritizing inclusive hiring practices, prioritizing mental health and well-being support, and engaging with disability advocacy organizations, universities can take concrete steps toward creating more inclusive environments for individuals with disabilities.
Take Action:
- National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
- How to Include People with Disabilities
- Mentoring Students with Disabilities in Research Experiences
- Learn about 10 ways universities can reject ableism
- Read 8 ways to ensure your higher-ed institution is advocating for staff with disabilities
- Faculty Guide: Classroom Accommodations
- Disability Awareness, Accessibility and Allyship with Parapride
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resources from the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkit from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
