Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/8/99
      Contact:                           Carol Dotson 132

DISABILITY AWARENESS WEEK AT SLU OCT 11-14
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University's Office of Student Life is sponsoring
the campus's first Disability Awareness Week, October 11-14. 
     Among the activities scheduled are disability simulations, a faculty brown bag lunch and
a disabled students forum. 
     Coordinator Michele Broussard said the purpose of the week is to educate the university
community about the problems faced by people with disabilities, and to simulate the barriers and
obstacles encountered in a variety of disabilities. 
     "October is recognized as Disability Awareness Month nationally," said Broussard.  "We
wanted to designate a week on campus to make everyone aware that having a disability is not an
easy challenge. 
     "Some disabilities aren't as apparent as others and we expect the simulations will help
increase awareness of what a disabled person goes through," Broussard said. Scheduled
simulations include reading disorder, visual, hearing disabilities, dyslexia or dysgraphia, anxiety
and a wheelchair obstacle course. Simulations will take place in the War Memorial Student
Union mall and park on Monday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  All students who
participate in the simulations will be eligible for a prize drawing.
     Assistant Dean of Student Life June Williams will speak at faculty brown bag lunch, at
noon, Wednesday, October 13. Williams will discuss effective teaching methods to
accommodate students with disabilities. 
     A forum for students with disabilities will be held at 7 p.m. October 12 in the Student
Union ballroom. Topics scheduled to be discussed are campus issues and re-organizing PRIDE,
the organization for students with a disability.  "Too often students with a disability are reluctant
to vocalize their needs, said Broussard, "so one of the topics we'll discuss at the forum is
assertiveness."
     For more information on Southeastern's Disability Awareness Week, contact Broussard
at 549-2247.
                                                     -SLU-
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