Office for Civil Rights Attorneys, Neurodiversity Expert, and Deaf 'Amazing Race' Finalist present at Virtual Conference Next Week | Free Registration!

November 3, 2022

All �鶹��ý faculty and staff members are cordially invited to join �鶹��ý Disability Services offices and the HR Access Team for an exciting week of free virtual training sessions. Covering a variety of essential accommodation and accessibility topics, Disability Services Conference 2022 (DSC '22) special sessions will be presented by three attorneys (two from the Office for Civil Rights, OCR); neurodiversity, behavioral health, accommodation, and assistive technology experts; a candid student panel; and daily coffee chats with �鶹��ý's DS pros. Conference offerings also include two internationally recognized keynote speakers in the field.

Nov, 7-11, 2022

Two Sessions + Open 'Coffee Chats' with DS Experts each day | Attendance is free

Please feel free to explore both ‘session’ and ‘speaker’ tabs when making your selections. Here's a sneak preview of just three of DSC '22's exciting session offerings:

Keynote Speaker | Monday Nov 07, 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Dismantling Ableist Barriers and Celebrating Neurodiversity

Haley moss- long haired woman smiles at the camera

Haley Moss
Leader on disability inclusion, autism, and neurodiversity in the workplace

No two brains are the same. An estimated 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, including those with autism, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mental health disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities or acquired brain differences. Given this prevalence, why are conversations around neurodiversity nonetheless so difficult, and how do we dismantle ableism and barriers to access? In this session, Haley will unpack the nuances of navigating disclosure, advocating for ourselves and others, and building accessibility into our understanding of “inclusion.” Come prepared for lightbulb moments, and leave feeling more empowered to tackle stigma.

Office for Civil Rights Special Session | Thursday Nov 10, 2022 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Overview of Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Section 504/ADA, and Highlights from OCR’s 2022 Cases

Amy Kim
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

Rhonda Collins - a woman with long hair smiles at the camera

Rhonda Collins
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

Please join the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as we provide an overview of OCR’s work, common disability discrimination issues OCR investigates in higher education, and highlights of OCR disability cases this past year. Topics will include: academic adjustments, auxiliary services and effective communication, reasonable modifications, accessibility, and more.

DSC '22 Keynote Speaker | Friday Nov 11, 2022 | 2:00 - 3:30 PM
An Unexpected Adventure: My Life-Journey as a Deaf Person

Luke Adams
Outreach Consultant, Hard of Hearing (HOH) Specialty, CO Commission for the Deaf & HOH

Ever bungee-jumped in Switzerland, carried a 50-pound cheese wheel down a muddy hill, dragged Dracula’s coffin down the hill behind his castle in Transylvania, danced on the streets in India, hopped like a kangaroo in the Outback, hunted for a frog through a mud pit in Japan, paddled on a raft through the Malaysian jungle, or carried a seasoned 145-pound pig on a bamboo pole for a half-mile in Maui? Luke Adams has! Racing around the globe, exploring different cultures and balancing two worlds: the deaf world and the hearing world, is not without its challenges. Exploring, experiencing, and applying successful solutions while pursuing your dreams is exhilarating. In this session, world traveler Luke Adams will share the many meaningful milestones of his life-journey as a deaf person. Luke’s candid presentation lens will focus on the initial struggle of identity; the importance of the ability to 'see' various representations of disability; the necessity of effective communication; and the power of presence (truly being there) as an integral part of a genuine support system. Luke will cover the wild adventures he shared with his hearing mother and team partner, Margie, on ‘The Amazing Race’ popular television series -- an opportunity that came to pass through his personal perseverance and an unwavering support system. “Hearing person and deaf person, I feel we’re very equal. We just communicate differently. Anything is possible.”

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