Posted on Jan. 13: Posters change attitudes, build dreams

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/tanya_mitra2.jpg” caption=”Disability Awareness poster”]What does the McMaster graduate recently hired as a fashion designer in New York, the student who enjoys traveling and has been to Italy and Greece, the student who works out at the Pulse, the one who enjoys chess and the other who cheers on Manchester United with his friends have in common?

A disability and a dream.

Disabilities Awareness posters featuring these students are intended to remind others that although they have a disability, they are not different in their ambitions.

“I may have a sleep disorder, but I still have dreams,” reads one of the posters fixed to a wall in the McMaster University Student Centre. Created by the Centre for Student Development (CSD), they are part of its Disabilities Awareness campaign that runs year-round.

Two sets of five posters, featuring five McMaster students with a disability, have been created with the theme “Changing Attitudes, Building Community”.

“I wanted the campaign this year to focus on the acceptance and inclusion of all students,” says Laura Cooper, who was hired last year as CSD's disabilities awareness co-ordinator. The fourth-year honours commerce student now leads the campaign on a volunteer basis.

The program was extended last year from a week to an entire year, she adds. “We felt it was better to have the program run year-round rather than just one week, since people tend to forget about a campaign soon after it ends; this way, it will be kept fresh in their minds.”

“It also reflects the changing community we have coming to McMaster and also the change in administration's response to this community,” adds Brad Coburn, CSD's marketing and promotions co-ordinator who graduated last year from McMaster's multimedia program and helped Cooper graphically design the posters. “I'm not sure if we have more students coming to the school with a disability but we certainly have more students requesting accommodation. Those numbers are up and it's our responsibility to inform the McMaster community of those changing needs.”

Run by the Centre for Student Development and funded through the Student Affairs, the campaign includes a number of events throughout the year. In the fall, Christy Smith, a deaf contestant on Survivor talked to McMaster students about her experience on the show. As well, a blind comedian from Yuk Yuks performed on campus and a Carleton University student who has cerebral palsy put on a one-man play, which he wrote and performed.

During January there will be a number of activities at the Pulse, including orientation sessions and contests. On January 24 there will be an exhibition wheelchair rugby game. The game will take place following the McMaster men's basketball game and is scheduled to begin at approximately 5 pm. For more information about the Disabilities Awareness Campaign and to find out about all of the upcoming events, visit http://csd.mcmaster.ca/da.