Disability Awareness Month

Every year the President's Commission on Disability Issues organizes the October Disability Awareness Month.

If you would like to propose an event, workshop, presentation, performance, or any other activity, please complete this form.

2024 List of Events

Access to the 2024 Disability Awareness Month flyer is provided in PDF and Microsoft Word versions. Use and distribution of the flyer is encouraged!

Access PDF version of flyer

Access Microsoft Word version of flyer

SUN-SAT Oct. 6-12 | Multiple events throughout the week

Join the UMD Mental Health Coalition for a week of fun, engaging programming to improve your mental health!

View the full slate of programs for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

Contact Leslie Krafft at at lkrafft@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

THUR Sept. 26 | 1:30 - 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

Teaching and Learning Transformation Center workshop for instructors:

Do you wonder how to best support your students with disabilities, both visible and invisible? Do you have questions about accessibility best practices? Join us to learn about the accommodation process and the distinct roles of instructors, students, the UMD Accessibility and Disability Service (ADS), and the ADA/504 Coordinator. Discuss common accommodations, including how and why to implement them in the context of your specific classroom and course. Explore universal design principles that benefit all students regardless of their documented disability status. We are here to support you in your journey toward accessible and inclusive teaching.

Register for A+ Accessibility Acing Accommodations on Campus

Contact Emily Lucio at adacoordinator@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 1 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Atrium, STAMP

The Disability Inclusion Resource Fair is an interactive event that strives to educate the campus community about visible disabilities, invisible disabilities and strategies to promote inclusion.

Contact Errica Philpott-Barber at errica@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

WED Oct. 9 | 1:00 PM | Virtual Event

Join DIT IT Accessibility to learn about the six areas that have the greatest impact on making your online content more accessible. Unintentional barriers to learning can happen when headings, links, color, images, tables, and multimedia are incorrectly used or formatted. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to make all of your online content more accessible, including ELMS-Canvas course spaces, emails, presentations, and handbooks.

Register for Six Essential Steps for Digital Accessibility on Zoom

Contact Sue Johnston at sbj@umd.edu for accommodations to facilitate your full participation in the event.

THURS Oct. 10 | 12:00 - 3:00 PM | McKeldin Mall

The Self Care Fair is an interactive mental health & self-care fair sponsored by the campus-wide Mental Health Coalition as a part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.

Join student organizations, campus departments, and community partners in our quest to end the silence around mental health. Learn about how we can take care of ourselves and each other.

Meet those on campus who are passionate about mental health, engage in games and activities, access resources, and grab giveaway items that promote self-care!

More Information about the Self-Care Fair

Contact Leslie Krafft at at lkrafft@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

MON Oct. 7 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM | Virtual Event

In hopes to create a strong community for students on campus, join UMD students, faculty and staff who identify as a part of the disability community in an opportunity to connect, socialize and support one another. These spaces happen throughout the semester.

Register for the Disability Community Affinity Space on Zoom

Contact Lydia Sander at lsander@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

Wed Oct. 9 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM | SORC Student Involvement Suite in Stamp

Join the Student Government Association in proactively addressing infrastructural issues to enhance the accessibility of our campus community.

Itinerary:

3 PM: Meet at the SGA Office
3-3:20 PM: Briefing (what to look out for)
3:25 PM: Depart from SGA Office for Brief Route
3:55 PM: Complete Route & Return to SGA Office or End
4-4:30 PM: Office Hours for Director Brockmeyer & SGA President Artero.

For accommodations to facilitate your full participation in the event, contact Paisley Brockmeyer at apbrock@umd.edu

THUR Oct. 10 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Virtual Event

At the University of Maryland, we provide many services, programs, and activities through websites and mobile apps. Our teaching, research, and daily operations depend heavily on these digital platforms. However, when digital content, apps, and software are not accessible, they can create significant barriers for individuals with disabilities. Ensuring that our digital content and technologies are accessible is vital for providing high-quality services and fostering an inclusive, equitable, and effective environment for everyone.

The Faculty Forum on Digital Accessibility offers a valuable opportunity to stay updated on the latest ADA regulations and explore best practices for digital accessibility. Join us to gain actionable insights and resources for digital accessibility in both teaching and research and contribute to creating a more inclusive digital experience for all.

RSVP for the Faculty Forum Presentation-Digital Accessibility

Contact Ana Palla at anapalla@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation.

THUR Oct. 10 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Price George's Room in Stamp

Dr. Sara M. Acevedo (she/her) is the inaugural Lead Coordinator for the Disability Cultural Center. Join the Office of Multicultural Involvement for lunch with Dr. Sara M. Acevedo.
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RSVP for Meet and Greet

Contact Yvette Lerma Jones at ylerma@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event. ⁠

TUES Oct. 15 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Virtual Event

Ally is an ELMS-Canvas accessibility tool that can benefit both instructors and students. Course content and files uploaded by instructors are automatically checked for accessibility issues. Students can access alternative formats—such as text that is readable by a screen reader, electronic braille, or audio— which they can download and use to support their learning.

Register for Ally Overview on Zoom

Contact Sue Johnston at sbj@umd.edu for accommodations to facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 15 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Virtual Event

Presentations that are accessible to people with disabilities are also inclusive to many more audiences. This presentation will discuss ways to make your meetings and events accessible to everyone by providing all attendees with the tools they need to plan an accessible event.

Register for Making Events Accessible Event on Zoom

Contact Emily Singer Lucio at adacoordinator@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 15 | Registration Deadline for Workforce Recruitment Program

The University Career Center is coordinating UMD's efforts to promote the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) for students with disabilities. WRP, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Defense, is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and select private-sector employers with highly motivated college students, graduate students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through internships or permanent jobs.

The Workforce Recruitment Program is relevant to individuals who qualify for Schedule A Hiring Authority. You can apply for jobs using Schedule A if you are a person with an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability or a psychiatric disability.

HOW TO APPLY
Visit WRP.gov and click “Students Register Now!” to get started! Registration is now open and closes on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Visit wrp.gov for more information about Workforce Recruitment Program

MON Oct. 21 | 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

MON Oct. 28 | 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

WED Oct. 30 | 4:00 PM | Hybrid (Susquehanna Hall 3105 and Online)

The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is excited to announce the 2024 Disability Studies Speaker Series. This year's speaker series will feature virtual and hybrid talks with three speakers, Jess Whatcott, Katie Tastrom, and Mimi Khúc.

October 21, 3 PM EST, Virtual - Menace to the Future with Jess Whatcott

October 28, 3 PM EST, Virtual - A People's Guide to Abolition and Disability Justice with Katie Tastrom

October 30, 4 PM EST, Hybrid (SQH 3105 and online) - Dear Elia with Mimi Khúc

More information about the Disability Studies Speaker Series

Contact Elece Smith at wgss@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 22 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Virtual Event

Please join us for a conversation on what faculty members should know about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and what it means for your teaching, research, and disability accommodation. We will discuss:

The role of the ADA coordinator on campus;
The process for securing accommodations for faculty members; and
How instructors can support students with disabilities.

Presenters include: John Bertot, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs; Emily Singer Lucio, ADA Coordinator; Tessa Cahill, Director, Accessibility & Disability Service.

RSVP for Disability and ADA Awareness Faculty Forum

Contact Laura Rosenthal at lresnt1@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 22 | 4:00 PM | Virtual Event

The Circle is a monthly restorative space to center those impacted by identity-based trauma. All UMD members are welcome into The Circle, acknowledging that we are holding space for one another as we share with vulnerability and humility. Restorative circles derive from Indigenous ancestral wisdom as a means for individual and community healing.

For this month's Circle, we will be centering the humanity and dignity of the UMD disability community. We will ground ourselves in an accessible support space while naming what we need from one another and the University to honor us in our fullness.

*To ensure the privacy of attendees, this sacred space will never be recorded
**After about 5 minutes past the hour, we will close entry to new attendees so that we can assure that all participants receive quality care within this space. Since this is a healing space and not a webinar, we hope for all participants to engage to the best of their ability.

Register for The Circle - Uplifting the Disability Community on Zoom

Contact b.a. medina at bamedina@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

THURS Oct. 24 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

An overview of the available tools for improving the accessibility and usability of content in ELMS-Canvas. Barriers to learning can occur from simple issues with common elements such as color contrast, links, heading levels, and tables — but there are several built-in tools available for checking and fixing these issues. Some previous experience with ELMS-Canvas is helpful, but this session is designed for every level of experience. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the available resources and the ability to use them in their own course spaces.

Register for ELMS-Canvas Accessibility Tools on Zoom

Contact Sue Johnston at sbj@umd.edu for accommodations to facilitate your full participation in the event.

THURS Oct. 24 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Benjamin Banneker Room in Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Join us for dinner and dive into an interactive session designed to spark conversation around disability inclusion in higher education. Explore critical questions and engage in meaningful dialogue that challenges perceptions, to foster a more inclusive campus environment.

FREE dinner provided to those who RSVP. Graduate and undergraduate students welcome!

Dr. Warren is the Director of Disability Services at the University of Chicago and recently received her Doctor of Education in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a concentration in Diversity & Education from The University of Illinois. Dr. Warren is also a NCCJ St. Louis certified DEI FaciliTrainer. With 25 years of experience as a disability accommodation specialist and assistive technology subject matter expert, she has grown into a well-respected disability inclusion advocate, speaker, leader, and thought partner in establishing innovative ways to incorporate disability as a part of diversity and inclusion efforts.

RSVP for Dis/Ability Inclusive Practices

Contact Emily Singer Lucio at adacoordinator@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this event.

FRI Oct. 25 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM | Prince George's Room in Adele H. Stamp Student Union

We invite all faculty & staff members to join us for lunch (provided) while we learn from disability inclusion scholar Dr. Charnessa Warren.

Explore the fundamentals of disability theory and engage with a practical four-step framework designed to systematically include dis/ability in higher education.

Dr. Warren is the Director of Disability Services at the University of Chicago and recently received her Doctor of Education in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a concentration in Diversity & Education from The University of Illinois. Dr. Warren is also a NCCJ St. Louis certified DEI FaciliTrainer. With 25 years of experience as a disability accommodation specialist and assistive technology subject matter expert, she has grown into a well-respected disability inclusion advocate, speaker, leader, and thought partner in establishing innovative ways to incorporate disability as a part of diversity and inclusion efforts.

RSVP for Disability is Diversity Lunch and Learn with Dr. Charnessa Warren

FRI Oct. 25 - SAT Oct. 26 | 5:00 PM FRI - 5:00 PM SAT

PlaceHack challenges student teams to rethink a place-based problem in College Park or on UMD’s campus—an underused space, a dangerous intersection, a parking lot—and conceive something new. Creativity, teamwork and pizza converge to inspire great spaces @ UMD and win cash prizes!

In Partnership with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, this year’s challenge is accessibility.

Register for PlaceHack: Accessibility Challenge

Contact Katie Nave, at knave3@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

MON Oct. 28 | 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

This session will provide an overview of the accessibility options that McKeldin Library offers to our users, both in the physical space and in digital services. This is also an opportunity for library users to give feedback on what you would like to see us add or change, and on what you think we should know in order to provide the best, and most accessible, services that we can to all of our users.

Register for the McKeldin Library Accessibility GPS on Zoom

Contact Ginny Hutcheson at ghutches@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 29 | 12:30 PM | Virtual Event

Please join us for a conversation on disability accommodations for University staff. We will discuss:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Process for securing staff accommodations
Status of COVID-19 related accommodations
New Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
Difference between ADA and Family Medical Leave
Accessibility & Role of the ADA/504 coordinator on campus.

Register for UHR Power Hour via the Google Form

Contact Natacha Thys at nthys@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 29 | 11:00 AM- 5:00 PM | Tawes Hall; Third Floor Lobby

Writing for Health Professions and Advanced Composition students will be sharing project posters that integrate access and inclusivity.

RSVP for Student Showcase

Please contact Daune O’Brien at dmobrien@umd.edu for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

TUES Oct. 29 | Time coming soon! | MICA's Cozy Corner in Stamp

Queers With Disabilities will be hosting their second ever "Rock n' Jam" on Tuesday, October 29 as part of the celebrations UMD holds for both Disability Awareness Month and LGBTQ+ History Month! Join us for rock painting and button pin making while jamming out to rock music. Don't worry about supplies as we will provide it, but if you want something special you may bring it.

Contact queerswithdisabilities2023@gmail.com for accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in the event.

WED Oct. 30 | 1:00 PM | Virtual Event

Register for Ally Overview on Zoom

Contact Sue Johnston at sbj@umd.edu for accommodations to facilitate your full participation in the event.

Past Events

Last update: September 19, 2024