A golden retriever named UKON has given life back to his owner, Jane MacFarlane. He supports her when she walks, helps her hear the doorbell and keeps her going throughout the day.
On Oct. 21 and 27, as part of Investing in Abilities Week, the public will have the opportunity to meet UKON and dogs like him who are training to be service, guide, assistance and therapy aids to individuals with disabilities.
“Dogs, dogs, dogs … and how they help!” is part of the 19th annual event put on by the Council for Disability Concerns. The week will feature events dealing with mental and physical disabilities such as autism, differences in learning, deafness and traumatic brain injury.
Investing in Abilities Week aims to “present interesting and informative events to raise awareness about disability issues and reduce stigma, promote accessibility, and emphasize the positive aspects of living,” says Anna Schnitzer, chair of the 2008 Neubacher Award Committee and coordinator of the week’s events.
From the guide dog show on the Diag and the 3rd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tip-off, to a panel on deafness and a lecture on marriage with special needs children, the week offers a variety of events on campus and around Ann Arbor.
As part of the week’s activities, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) Players on Oct. 22 will perform “(dis)Ability in the Classroom,” which addresses stereotypes and challenges in a classroom with disabled students.
“The sketch depicts an instructor and students on the first day of class struggling with the many stereotypes and dynamics surrounding visible and hidden disabilities,” says Jeffrey Steiger, CRLT artistic director.
“(dis)Ability in the Classroom” will give the audience a chance to discuss the issues and suggest improvements, after which the players will re-perform the skit, but with the audience’s suggestions.
The Players spend about 20 hours to prepare a single skit. “We discuss and engage with the issues personally and academically,” Steiger says.
In addition to the CRLT performance and various lectures, the James T. Neubacher Award will be presented to an outstanding individual or group who has raised disability awareness. In honor of Neubacher, a U-M alumnus and former journalist for the Detroit Free Press, the awardee must actively demonstrate a commitment to promoting disability accessibility and education.
The council also holds various awareness events throughout the year. “We keep a sharp eye out for accessibility problems throughout the campus, touch base with the community to assess their needs and invite speakers and others to our monthly meetings,” Schnitzer says.
The week will begin with the Third Annual Symposium on Mental Health in the Workplace at 10 a.m. Oct. 14 in Palmer Commons. The symposium, led by Christopher Peterson, Arthur F Thurnau Professor and professor of psychology, will explore mental health issues and the importance of creating a positive work environment.
For more information, go to www.med.umich.edu/abilities.
