“Disability Experience” Conference to Be Held at Pitt on Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Students for Disability Advocacy, a student-led organization at the University of Pittsburgh, will hold a conference, “The Disability Experience: State of Scholarship, Research and the Arts,” on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in the William Pitt Union’s Assembly Room.

The conference’s goals are to advance the field of disability studies, incorporate the disability perspective into higher education curricula, and promote full inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education.

Students with and without disabilities from six universities will present scholarly work in the fields of English and fine arts, disability narrative, assistive technology, health and wellness, education, employment, policy development, and community inclusion. 

Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of labor within the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy, will be the event’s keynote speaker at noon Oct. 31.

On Nov. 1 at 12:10 p.m., an interactive roundtable chaired by Paula Davis, assistant vice chancellor for health sciences diversity within Pitt’s Schools of the Health Sciences, will discuss the relationship between students with disabilities and university faculty, and how to improve it. Pitt panelists will include Michael Spring, Faculty Senate president and a professor of information science and technology; Alberta M. Sbragia, vice provost for graduate studies and a professor of political science; Lynnett Van Slyke , director of the University’s Disability Resources and Services; and Kathleen Ryan, assistant dean for medical education, Pitt School of Medicine.

The conference is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged; visit www.pitt.edu/~sorc/disability or call 412-822-3710.