University of Southern Indiana Disability Resources, ADA Coordinator and the Institutional Equity Office are hosting a week of events, Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17, in honor of Disability Awareness Month. The week will feature a keynote presentation by Lizzie Velasquez, global motivational speaker, YouTube personality and anti-bullying activist/author, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16 in Carter Hall. The keynote presentation, “How Do You Define Yourself?,†will be followed by a Q&A session and meet and greet with Velasquez. The event is open to the public at no charge.
Velasquez’s story has been featured on TODAY, The View, Huffington Post, Associated Press, MSN and Yahoo! among other national and international media outlets. She is an executive producer of A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, a documentary chronicling her journey from cyber-bullying victim to global anti-bullying activist. Her fourth book, DARE TO BE KIND, was released in June 2017.
“Many factors and stereotypes can influence our attitudes,†says Michelle Kirk, Manager of Disability Resources. “Interacting with those who are different from you can be uncomfortable, however, if you are open to learning, you will open the door to acceptance and inclusion.â€
Throughout the week, a series of additional events, including a disability awareness scavenger hunt and various tabling events around campus, will be held on campus for the internal University community to honor Disability Awareness Month.
For questions or to request event-related accommodations, contact Kirk at mdkirk@usi.edu or 812-464-1998.
