By Catherine Conkle Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Last night, a student presentation entitled "Trailblazers: A History and Life of U.Va. Students with Disabilities" began the second annual Disability and Deafness Awareness Week sponsored by the Learning Needs and Evaluation Center and Deafness Education and Awareness For all Students.
The presentation was created and given by third-year College students Gwen Archard and Jade Craig.
The event was an attempt to highlight the tradition of disabled students at the University, Archard said.
"I am hoping the presentation raises awareness for the problems that people with disabilities face, as well as to uncover the lives of past alumni with disabilities," she said.
Archard and Craig included profiles of the first known disabled students at the University, who were veterans of the Civil War. In addition, they discussed contemporary disabled alums who have gone on to be activists for the cause of the disabled.
While the University has made efforts to make its education more accessible to students living with disabilities, the presenters emphasized the need for social integration of disabled students in the community.
Integration is often hindered by the largely alcohol-based aspects of the Unversity's student social life and the small population of severely disabled students at the University, Archard said.
Fewer than 100 students at the University are severely disabled, the presenters said.
The focus on disability education and integration will continue throughout the week.
"The week includes several events aimed toward increasing awareness of all disabilities, including deafness at the University," said Greg Propp, coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at the LNEC.
Along with yesterday's presentation, the Disability and Deafness Awareness Week will include a screening tonight of "Sound and Fury," a documentary about deafness and deaf culture, as well as a student with disabilities panel Wednesday night. A disability resource fair scheduled for Thursday has been postponed.
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