Celebrating Diverse Abilities
October is DiversAbility Awareness Month at SDSU.
“The shift from using the word 'disability' to 'diversability' is really taking a step back to see people with disabilities as another group of diversity on campus that really has its own community.”
October 1 marks the start of DiversAbility Awareness Month at San Diego State University, a month-long series of programs and events meant to highlight the diverse experiences and abilities of those in the SDSU community.
With support from the Committee for Enhancing Campus Culture and Climate for Persons of Varying Abilities at SDSU, Student Disability Services, in partnership with the One SDSU Community initiative, as well as campus departments and student groups, is working to increase the inclusion and visibility of persons with varying abilities to better enhance the campus culture at SDSU.
“The shift from using the word ‘disability’ to ‘diversability’ is really taking a step back to see people with disabilities as another group of diversity on campus that really has its own community,” said Pamela Starr, Student Disability Services’ director. “We really want to bring awareness to this community because they do have their own culture, their own heritage and history.”
Highlights
One of the highlights of the month is a talk by National B-2 Blind Golf Champion and SDSU alum Jeremy Poincenot, who will speak to students in Montezuma Hall on October 9. A professional inspirational speaker, Poincenot graduated from SDSU in 2013 after being diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare genetic disorder that left him legally blind in his sophomore year.
“Losing my sight at 19 while I was at SDSU was the toughest challenge I’ve ever had to face,” said Poincenot. “Now that I’m an SDSU alum, I hope my presentation inspires people to take control of their lives and turn trauma into triumph and really open peoples’ eyes that this is a struggle that anyone can face.”
While at SDSU, Poincenot said he received a tremendous amount of support from both his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Student Disability Services.
Disabilities advocate Richard Pimentel, a war veteran with a hearing disability, will join the program’s line-up on October 13. His advocacy contributed to the movement to recognize equal treatment for people with disabilities that eventually led to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, in 1990.
“Music Within,” a film based on Pimentel’s life story and experiences, will be screened in the Aztec Student Union Theatre from 6 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a moderated question and answer discussion with Pimentel.
“Richard attests to the heritage and civil rights movement for this population, and his experience is intersectional, too, because he is an individual who identifies as having a disability and as a veteran,” Starr said.
Students will have the opportunity to experience what it’s like to live with learning, hearing or visual disabilities through simulations set up along the Centennial Walkway on October 1. Additional events throughout the month include an information fair, a pop-up art show and a wheelchair rugby demonstration.
Student Disability Services currently serves more than 1,200 students at SDSU. More information about Student Disability Services and DiversAbility Awareness Month is available on the department’s website.
