Disabled Student Cultural Center

Presented by Linda WolfordUniversity of Minnesota – Twin CitiesAHEAD Conference, Baltimore, 2013

• Founded in 1992• The first cultural center of its kind

in the world.

"I realized the need to have kind of a home base from which to draw strength and power.

For years, we have been asked to live in this able-bodied world,

trying to become able-bodied people. The idea here is, I'm proud of my disability

and I don't need to be fixed." (Gene Chelberg, New York Times, April 26, 1992).

History

Mission of DSCCThe DSCC is composed of students with and without disabilities. Our mission is:• To foster the culture of individuals with disabilities both visible and invisible.

DSCC aims to create a sense of community and pride among students with disabilities.

• To provide the university community the opportunity to learn and better understand disability issues.

• To support a completely accessible environment.• To increase the level of disability awareness and acceptance on campus• To serve as a resource for disabled students and non-disabled students• To offer a space for students with disabilities and their allies to socialize, make

connections, and support one another.

Our goal is to raise the level of awareness and acceptance of disability (both visible and invisible) on campus and also to increase the level of integration that students with disabilities have in campus life. Through our activities and efforts to ensure that the University of Minnesota is accessible to all students, we seek to break barriers and foster inclusion.

Key Events and Activities• 1997 – conference “Disabled and Proud: A National Gathering of

Student Leaders with Disabilities”• 2010 – Mental Health Awareness Day begins• 2011 – “Igniting the Power of Disability and Diversity”• 2012 – DSCC sponsored six deaf students to compete in the

National College Bowl• 2012 – Deaf Ambassadors group formed• DSCC has collaborated with other student organizations to put on

many events at the University. Featured speakers include:• Historian Paul Longmore• Disability studies professor Carol Gill• CSNBC'S John Hockenberry• Auti Angel• No Pity author Joseph Shapiro• Comedian Josh Blue• Finnish deaf rapper Signmark (Video - http://youtu.be/As08DD9ArY).