Tapestry, SPRING 2005 TEXT ONLY

Spring 2005 Volume 1 Issue 1

TAPESTRY

Weaving together a vibrant and inclusive community

UNC Charlotte Office of Disability Services
Fretwell 230

tel:704‑687‑0040 fax: 704‑687‑1395 email: disability@uncc.edu website: Disability Services

DID YOU KNOW?

There are approximately 460 students registered with the office of Disability Services at UNC Charlotte. The following represents the majority of disabilities on campus :

• ADD/ ADHD: 35%
• Learning Disability: 20%
• Medical & Physical: 17%
• Psychological/Other: 14%
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing: 5%
• Traumatic Brain Injury: 3%
• Visual Impairments: 3%

Welcome from the Office of Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services is happy to present our first newsletter and hopes that it will be a source of valuable information for the entire university. Our staff works with students and faculty/staff to ensure equal access to educational programs and to increase awareness of disability issues.

Our office operates with open doors and welcomes any questions or concerns. In fact, we encourage suggestions and feedback not only about our newsletter, but about our office as well. We value multiple perspectives in assisting us to improve our services.
As you may have heard, the Office of Disability Services is now fully staffed. Our professionals bring to the table a rich background of experience in the fields of special education, communication, counseling, and psychology.

As our newsletter title implies, the UNC Charlotte community is a tapestry woven with various threads, each one different, but intertwining with all the others to form the colorful whole. We hope our newsletter will be representative of the diversity that enriches our campus.
We would not be here if it were not for the remarkable students we serve. Therefore, our first issue is dedicated to some of their own personal experiences.

Featured Students

The Office of Disability Services has been afforded the opportunity through the years to work with so many talented students. We would like to share some of their stories with the entire campus. Jeremy Chapman, Jamie Crowell, and Kari Stith took time out of their busy finals’ schedule to sit down with the counselors at DS and discuss their personal experiences while at UNC Charlotte.

Jeremy Chapman graduated in December 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture.

What has been your most memorable experience at UNC Charlotte? The most memorable experience was putting up my outdoor sculpture, The Dealer. It took me all semester to make and it was a huge accomplishment.

What advice would you give to new students? To persevere is my biggest thing. Because things do get tough and you may want to give up. Just keep on going. Inner drive to beat the disease or to beat my obstacles keeps me going.

How do you advocate for yourself and describe a time that you successfully advocated for yourself? I register and hand in the accommodation letters each semester. Doing my best is the best way I advocate for myself. I want to out do what is expected.

How do you respond when asked about your disability? I just started being comfortable telling people about theM.S.(Multiple Sclerosis). For years I wouldn’t tell. I was ashamed and didn’t want people to think less of me. I felt as though friends acted weird around me. I found out through the years that maybe I didn’t have the best friends then and now I have met good people. They have accepted me for who I am and it actually has made me feel better because now I am not living with a secret. Now I am open and honest with people when they ask me questions aboutM.S.

Who or what inspires you? My granddad really inspires me. He did a lot of wood carvings and I grew up looking at them and it has had a big impact on me. I use a lot of wood in my sculptures.

What do you hope to do after UNC Charlotte? My plans are to take some post baccalaureate courses at UNC Charlotte and I will be looking at graduate schools. I will apply for MFA programs. I would like to teach art at the college level eventually.

What would you like others to know about you? I am an artist. I am a hard worker. A big thing about myself, and people with disabilities, we have to be adaptable. It is a must actually to adapt to what is happening to you. If you don’t, you can fall behind.

Jamie Crowell is a senior majoring in Communication Studies and plans to graduate in May 2005.
What has been your most memorable experience at UNC Charlotte? When I made an A in Statistics, and when I was recognized in the University Times. But I think more importantly, the influence I have here (in the Office of Disability Services). I am one of two blind students still here. The office has let me take the lead.

What advice would you give to new students? They have to learn right off, they have to take initiative, especially for students with disabilities. They need to be able to talk to their professors, to let the professor know what they need.

How do you advocate for yourself and describe a time that you successfully advocated for yourself? Here, when I advocate, I try to find either a supervisor or the director of a department and take the issue to them. If it’s a professor I’ll either try to contact you guys (Disability Services), or if I think I can resolve it directly with the professor I’ll talk to the professor. And then I also go through other agencies such as Metrolina Association for the Blind . I’ve had to advocate for the crosswalk out here (at the main entrance). I and this office (Disability Services) worked with the city to get the crosswalk put in.

How do you respond when asked about your disability? It depends upon the type of question that they ask me. Most of the time I’ll respond, give them an honest answer that they can understand. But most of the time they don’t understand even when I answer. If it’s a question that’s too personal and I don’t know the person very well, I won’t answer it. I get a lot of stuff with my partner Omar. Questions about how he helps. Most of the questions I get are “May I pet your dog?”, “I’m really not allowed to pet your dog, or anything?”, “No, he’s working.” I’m okay to answer those questions.

Who or what inspires you? I give most of my credit to God. And also other blind folks I know. Like Eric Weihenmayer. He was the first and only blind guy to successfully climb Mount Everest.

What do you hope to do after UNC Charlotte? Hopefully I’ll have a job in some sort of corporate setting, possibly non-profit. I have an internship with United Way that I’m starting in January, and I’m going to see where that takes me.

What would you like others to know about you? I wish people would stop stereotyping me. Please don’t compare me to the deaf culture. I want people to see me as a normal, professional person and acknowledge my morality. I think overall I want people to see me as a person who lives a normal life. Blind folks just have to do things differently, in order to make our lives as normal as possible

Kari Stith is originally from Winston-Salem and a sophomore majoring in Psychology.

What has been your most memorable experience at UNC Charlotte? In general, my freshman year. I was living in Moore high rise. My roommate and I made so many friends that year, and we still all hang out this year. I also totaled my car freshman year. I was forced to be here. It turned out to be one of the best things that happened.

What advice would you give to a new student? I definitely would say, if you have any questions about anything, just ask. Get a good advisor from the beginning so you’re not getting one assigned to you. For me I didn’t want to admit that I had problems so, I didn’t register with Disability Services until my sophomore year, which was the biggest mistake of my life. I could have gotten way better grades in my freshman year than I did. So, register right away. You can’t do it on your own, don’t think you’re invincible. Get to know the campus, get involved freshman year. I regret not getting involved sooner, there’s so much to do.

How do you advocate for yourself and describe a time when successfully advocated? I had physiological biology. I was not happy with my tests. I studied so hard. I had one of those teachers who are not approachable. So , I confronted her and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. She helped me study for my tests. After, I got a B in the class.

How do you respond when asked about your disability? At first I would go out of my way to make sure no one saw me come in here (ODS). But then I thought, you know what, this helps me more than anything (to take my test here). I could care less now if anyone asks me. I have ADD and I cannot focus for the life of me in front of you, but behind your back I can. The next day after an exam someone might say “where were you?” and I say “I took it at Disabilities.” They just say “Oh, OK.” No one cares. They just want to make sure you didn’t miss it. They want to make sure you are OK and not sick .

Who or what inspires you? My parents inspire me a lot because they are just great people. My Mom is a grade school teacher and everyone wants their kids to have her. My dad is a salesman and teaches adult Sunday school at church. Everyday I hope to be more and more like them. They are such awesome people; If I could be half as cool as them when I get older …

What do you hope to do after UNC Charlotte? I hope to go to Grad school, but I’m really not sure. My major is psychology and I really want to eventually teach. But there are so many things to do with Psychology. I really don’t have a set goal at this point. I’m going to take an aptitude test and hope that that will set me a path or tell me where I need to go.

What would you like others to know about you? I would like them to know that I’m not just here for Psychology, and I’m not just the girl with the glasses. I’m myself and I’m an individual. I want to make friends, and I want to have fun. I wish people would not judge on first impressions. It’s like if you see me, say “hey.” If I don’t see you it’s because I’m in my own little world; bring me out of it.

Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award

“We must become the change we want to see” Ghandi

Too many times the people that inspire and encourage us go unnoticed. We at Disability Services are proud to announce our first annual outstanding faculty and staff award.

Let this be the forum to acknowledge those that have inspired and those that have championed the course of change towards a more accessible and inclusive university. Nominate the faculty or staff member that has provided additional encouragement and support of your academic goals.

If you’d like to recognize a professor or staff member for their outstanding support and commitment to accessibility and education, you can recommend them for the Outstanding Faculty/ Staff Award through the Office of Disability Services.

Nomination forms are available at the front desk of Fretwell 230. Nominations on alternate formats will also be accepted. Please talk to one of the DS staff to coordinate.

The staff at the Office of Disability Services will review nominations and based on the specific examples that you provide, a faculty or staff member will receive special recognition for their dedication to disability awareness. Remember to be detailed in your description of the actions taken by your nominee in providing an accessible education at UNC Charlotte!

The deadline for submission is Monday, February 28th. Nominations can be returned to any staff member at 230 Frewell

Faculty Corner

The Office of Disability Services works with departments across UNC Charlotte to ensure that educational programs and campus facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Diverse campus communities create an enriched learning environment. People with disabilities enhance campus diversity with their individual perspectives and experiences. In addition, federal and state laws protect students with disabilities.

In order to qualify for services, students with disabilities must provide comprehensive current documentation to Disability Services. Once qualified, students meet with Disability Services counselors to identify reasonable accommodations that support the student’s educational goals, which is drafted into a Letter of Accommodation

It is the student’s responsibility to provide their faculty with this letter in order to receive accommodations.

Faculty and staff are invited to contact one of the counselors from Disability Services whenever there is a question about a student with a disability or their accommodation.

Disability Services Staff

• Jo Ann A. Fernald Director 704‑687‑2351
• Erin Steinke Student Services Assistant 704‑687‑4355
• Kelly W. Grey Assistant Director 704‑687‑2132
• Kristin J. Kolin Assistant Director 704‑687‑3136
• Cindy Long Assistant Director 704‑687‑3102

UPCOMING EVENTS

As most of you know, the UNC Charlotte campus always has a wide variety of events planned. The Office of Disability Services presents several workshops and sponsors events throughout the year, so make sure you drop by our office for more details. We will also be happy to help in exploring accessibility at campus sponsored events.

Building Connections

• TBA Improve your communication skills with this three part workshop. Contact Kelly Grey for more information.
• Job Search Skills Presentation February 23, 2005 Learn how to present strengths and explore disability issues in the work place. Sign up in Fretwell 230.
• Deadline for Outstanding Faculty/Staff Awards February 28, 2005
• Recognize a faculty or staff member for their commitment to disability awareness.
• Finals Deadline April 22, 2005
• Last day to sign up for finals in the DS office.

FOR FACULTY & STAFF:

DSS Policy: Accommodating Students with Disabilities with Off-Campus Placements: Who &How.

April 5, 2005 A Teleconference led by DS Experts. Contact DS office for more information.

Editor: Kristin Kolin