 "Photo: David Fitts/Echo online editor")
October has long been celebrated as the month for ghost stories, trick-or-treating, and breast cancer awareness. However, many do not realize that October also is the focus month for another medical issue: Disability Awareness.
Through their theme "NO LIMITS: Celebrating Our Diversity," N.C. Central University's Office of Student Disability Services devotes a week each October to educating the campus on the importance of disabilities.
"This week is here to put a lens on persons with disabilities who are students on campus and persons in the community showing everyone that they have no limits whatsoever placed on them," said Birshari Cox, Office of Student Disability Services interim assistant director.
On Monday, the week of events kicked off with Leon Rouson, associate professor in the department of early childhood elementary and special education program at Norfolk State University giving a speech about celebrating diversity; speaking on the theme of "NO LIMITS."
Ending with a clip of "GLEE," performing John Lennon's "Imagine," Rouson who is a 1983 NCCU alumnus, said that "our lives would be stress free if we celebrated all of our differences."
Tonight, an evening of spoken word and jazz will be held "Celebrating ALL of US," at the A.E. Student Union at 7 p.m. "We want poets to express feelings about diversity tonight," said Cox. "This event is open everyone in the campus community, not just students who have disabilities."
Tomorrow, George Street will be full of excitement during 10:40 break as the "Disability Awareness Fest," will be held until noon.
Students will be able to participate in disability simulations to gain a glimpse to see what it is to have a disability including visual impairment, learning disability, dyslexia, upper extremity disability and a wheelchair simulation.
On Friday, some NCCU students with a documented disability will spend their day showing faculty and staff the ropes during "A Day in the Life."
Saturday culminates the week's activities from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the L.T. Walker Complex. "Unity in the Community Day." "We want to end the week with a wonderful celebration bringing students and members of the community together to celebrate Disability Awareness Month," said Kesha Lee, Office of Student Disability Services director.
"I hope students come out the rest of the week and see the ability and not the disability with others," said Shannon Garner, accounting junior, who is on the planning board for the events. "We are people just like they are."
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