Asende's Story: English
Interviewer: We believe it is really important for the voices of individuals with disabilities to be heard, and we appreciate you taking the time to participate in this project and share your children's story.
Interviewer: Can you describe a typical day in Mala's life before the pandemic hit in mid-March?
Asende: Uh, I think that before we began experiencing this problem, it was alright, and again with these problems I think he is just alright.
Interviewer: Are there any specifics? Like, before he went to school in person, and now he does school from home, are there any specific ways that it has changed?
Asende: It is true that there are changes concerning that. Because even he himself, you see...
The challenge is that he was a person who loved to play with his peers but here there is no child his age. He feels very lonely and keeps saying, all the time, that, "Uh! I could have gone to school. Why are they refusing to open schools?"
So, I comfort him on such days. It is a big challenge.
Interviewer
I can understand why he would be very sad about that. It's a big change. Are there any other challenges? Or are there any positives that have come out of this big shift of being home
Asende
No. There are no positives. For example, for Mala...he feels lonely. It is like someone staying in a place without many people. Mostly, everyone, if they have family, they can stay with their families. But a child mostly likes to play with children his or her age, of the same age with him or her. Therefore, it becomes a challenge to him.
And it is also a challenge to us. Then not leaving the house as often because of this problem becomes very difficult. It becomes like a burden.
Interviewer
Is there any way that he is able to communicate or stay connected to family members or friends outside of your immediate household?
Asende
No. They are not even nearby...they are quite far away and because of this problem, they also do not go to their friends to play. I have thought it better to keep informing them of things. You see...there was a certain video I was watching on the internet, here on YouTube, and news on how Corona is killing people. So, there was a time I was doing this so that they learn and be afraid of exposing themselves and also so that he sees how he, too, can get infected. When he understands that there is Corona, he stops.
Interviewer
Is Mala ever able to talk to them over, like video call, like WhatsApp or is he just not really interested in that?
Asende
Mostly he is quiet because he just uses... There is an iPad they gave him at school, and he had another one here. Because he is using them... he uses them for his school photos and for other song videos he really likes. These are usually what I see him doing. And when he gets tired, he watches videos.
Interviewer
Have there been any challenges for Mala in accessing his medical care? Have you had any challenges or has that been straightforward?
Asende
For now, since this situation came about, we have not gone with him to the hospital or to any doctor. Therefore, I cannot talk of challenges related with going to the hospital.
Interviewer
Have you done... like the virtual appointments over the phone?
Asende
Yes, through calls.
Interviewer
I know you know kids are now having to wear masks. Does Mala understand that he has to wear a mask when he leaves the house or is that hard for him?
Asende
Yes. Many times, when he goes to any place, a place with possibly other people, he usually wears his mask but when inside, no, he doesn't want to wear it.
My challenge as a parent is that I arrive late in the night, and when I sleep, Mala and his brothers go outside without my knowledge. It becomes a challenge when you have to wake up really early and yet you were working in the night, just so that you check if they will go outside without your knowledge.
Interviewer
What was it like, in your experience as a caregiver, you know, and a father of children, still having to work because I don't think your employment ended at all during the pandemic, correct?
Asende
Challenges are there. They are many. I do work, and because we alternate with their mother, I ... and because the children themselves are not schooling nowadays, and even his brothers are not schooling, they are here at home. When I leave for work, for example, today I will leave for work in the evening, around 4pm... I will wait for their mother to return before I leave.
For now, I am just here with them.
My challenge as a parent is that I arrive late in the night, and when I sleep, Mala and his brothers go outside without my knowledge. It becomes a challenge when you have to wake up really early and yet you were working in the night, just so that you check if they will go outside without your knowledge.
Interviewer
That is hard. It's hard to help with homework when you have to get to restore during the day. Because it's important that you stay healthy too not just your children stay healthy.
Asende
Yes
Interviewer
I know you've shared a little bit about this with me before, but can you briefly describe maybe some other challenges that Mala has faced in having to switch to learning from home?
Asende
First, the challenge is that you will think about the time that you will agree on with the teacher. That we will have learning from a certain time to a certain time.
But at that agreed time is when he...for example, he used to...you know Mala has problems...
He used to watch his movies. Therefore, to get him to leave that for other things becomes like witchcraft. I mean, it is very difficult. He gets to the online class really not wanting it at all! When you listen again, he is back to his movie.
That becomes a challenge. You have to hold him, comfort him, say a lot so that he agrees with you. But when he is getting into things he likes, he does it by himself.
Interviewer
Have you found anything, or any strategies or techniques that have worked best for helping Mala to learn during this time?
Asende
For him to be able to learn on... I think the learning will be on the internet when they open because... I'm asking about school this year. I do not think it will resume. Will it be opened or not? Or will it just be learning virtually?
Interviewer
It's a lot of new and adjustment right now.
Asende
Right.
Interviewer
Has there been anything fun or new or exciting that Mala has done since he's been home or something special your family has done to try to make best of the situation?
Asende
Mostly he likes music. While in Africa, mostly, he used to like football a lot. So, there are times here when he is very happy if you avail to him football matches from Europe, or from England. These he can watch and be very happy.
He also likes certain African music and dances and watches others. Most of the time he is usually dancing. You will find him in his room listening to his music and dancing but if you get into the room, he stops suddenly.
Mala will be very happy because when he goes to school, he will feel very free and will be very happy. Seeing his friends there in school will be very good.
Interviewer
So, when you think ahead to after this pandemic is done, do you...what do you think will be the same for Mala and what do you think or hope will be different in the future?
Asende
I think on that, Mala will be very happy because when he goes to school, he will feel very free and will be very happy. Seeing his friends there in school will be very good.
Interviewer
Do you have any wisdom or encouragement that you would give to other parents who are caring for a child with a disability right now during the pandemic?
Asende
Therefore, I would only urge them to be patient with those children. Even for those with children who have mental disorders. For these ones, mostly, you can... they will do something and you will stop them, but they will repeat the very thing you stopped them from doing. What you do not want. You can become very angry at them and do regrettable things.
Know which ways, which strategies you can use to convince these children so that they understand. Even if he or she does not understand, at least just so they know that, no, when he or she does a certain thing, the parent does not like it.
Interviewer
Thank you, Asende
Asende
The other thing is that according to this...we have a new opportunity with computers...
It is true that it brings problems in the family because there are others who reach the conclusion that in order to take care of their children, they must quit their jobs. That without leaving their jobs they will cause the child to get...if you leave the child unwatched and free, he or she can get...the problems of this disease and may end up infecting the entire family.
Therefore, the parent reaches the conclusion of saying, "let me first leave my job in order to take care of this." So, if he thinks about the possibility of the child going outside the house, he can really get stressed and can even become sick too, even though he has not contracted this Corona disease.
Therefore, it is very good to disrupt stressful thoughts. If you are staying indoors without being engaged, you can watch the TV, visit other people and take your child with you so that you know you are cooperating with each other. Things like that. Just disrupt stressful thoughts in different ways.
I also do get overwhelmed by stressful thoughts! How will I pay for the house, and other things that concern me. I mean things like those. Sometimes when you are staying inside too much someone can ask you something...they ask a question about something yet your thoughts are far from it. You are thinking about your life situation.
That is all. But disrupting stressful thoughts is what I would say to be very important for parents with children who have these kinds of problems since those problems affect the parents too.
Interviewer
Thank you so much, Asende, for sharing your thoughts. Is there anything else you would like to share about Mala's experience or your experience as his father during this time?
Asende
I think it is just that I know Mala has had problems, and me too. And when he has a problem, it is the entire family which has a problem because I do not know his future. And this issue of...the issue being followed up on, of his social security. I would ask that it be successfully completed so that it takes care of him. I do not know about my future. How many years I will live, how I will be like... I may not get any further assistance but if Mala's pocket is not so bad, it can help him.
To the school, I could say... I mean that Mala...
There at school, if they will go back... or even his teachers who look after him, to do so and ensure he learns and comprehends. You know these kinds of people do not comprehend easily. If he is learning with many other children, it becomes difficult for him to comprehend because the teacher, mostly, concerns himself with the majority of those... who have understood what he is...
The teacher thinks that possibly the children have understood this, yet there are others who are being left behind, not having comprehended. But if it is one teacher looking after him, it will be very easy to understand his problems and to make him comprehend well.
Interviewer
You are such a great advocate for your son and I Just encourage you as, you know, pandemic stuff continues and everything and you interact with his teachers to just continue advocating for him like you already do.
Asende
Thank you. I appreciate.
Asende's Story: Swahili
Interviewer: Ameshukuru kabisa kwa sababu wanataka kupata maoni ya watu walemavu na jinsi wako na mafamilia zao na amefurahi kwa sababu wewe unashuhudia pia.
Interviewer: Haya. Kabla hatujapata shida ya COVID... siku ya Mala...siku yake ilikuwanga namna gani kawaida?
Asende: Aa, nafikiri, kabla hatujapata hii matatizo ilikuwa tu sawa lakini na hizi tena nafikiri yeye yuko sawa tu.
Interviewer: Imebadilika namna gani kwa sababu zamani alikuwa anatembea na kwenda shule, na sasa hivi wanasomea nyumbani. Unaona imebadilika namna gani?
Asende: Ni kweli hapo kuna mabadiliko kuhusu hilo. Kwa sababu hata yeye mwenyewe... unaona ...changamoto yeye alikuwa ni mtu mwenye hupenda kucheza na wenzake, lakini hapa hivi hakuna mtoto wa rika yake. Anasikia kama vile upweke sana kila mara kukudai kwamba, "Uh! ningeenda shule, hivi wanakataa shule kwa nini?"
So nambembeleza bembeleza kwa siku kama hizo. Ni changamoto kubwa.
Interviewer
Anaona....kweli anaelewa kwa nini anaweza kuwa na huzuni kwa sababu ni badiliko kubwa sana. Unaona changamoto yoyote au uzuri ya vile wamekaa nyumbani sasa hivi?
Asende
A-a. Hakuna uzuri kwa mfano kwa Mala... anajiskia kama vile mpweke. Ni kama vile mtu anakaa sehemu yenye hakuna watu wengine. Kwa sababu, mara nyingi kila mtu hata kama ana familia wanaweza wanakaa, watu na familia, lakini mtoto mara nyingi huwa anapenda acheze na Watoto wa rika yake, yani wa umri wake. Hiyo inakuwa ni changamoto kwake.
Na pia ni changamoto hata kwa sisi. Kisha kutotoka nje zaidi kulingana na hii hali ya matatizo. Inakuwa kama vile vigumu. Inakuwa kama mzigo.
Interviewer
Kama sasa hivi pale mko, anaweza....ana marafiki wowote wale ye huweza kucheza nao au kuwasiliana nao, wale wako karibu na familia?
Asende
Hapana. Hata hawako hapa karibu lakini wako mbali kidogo na kwa sababu ya hii hali ya hii matatizo, pia hawaendi kule kwa wale wenzao kwenda kucheza kule kwa sababu nimeona ni afadhali nikuwe nawaambiaambia vitu. Si unaona. Na kuna picha fulani nilikuwa naangalia kwenye mtandao, hapa kwenye YouTube, na taarifa ya Habari jinsi Corona inavyouwa watu na sasa kuna mara nilikuwa nafanya hiyo kama mafunzo ili kuwaogopesha na wenyewe wasikuwe wanajihatarisha na waangalie namna ambavyo hata yeye anaweza kuambukizwa.... Na akisikia kwamba kuna Corona, anaacha.
Interviewer
Na Mala, huwa saa zingine ana wasiliana nao kutokana na Wotsapu, ile video,kutumia video, ama yeye huwa amenyamaza tu?
Asende
Yeye mara nyingi ananyamaza kwa sababu yeye anatumia tu ile...kuna iPad yenye walimpa kwa shule, na alikuwa na ingine yake hapa. Kwa sababu anatumikisha tu...anatumia zile kwa kutumia mapicha zake zile za shule na picha zingine zenye anapenda sana za miziki... ndio hizo tu ndio huwa mara nyingi namsikia akiwa nazo.
Na akichoka hivyo anaangalia video pale kwenye farasa...
Interviewer
Vitu kama kwenda kumwona mganga, kumwona daktari, sawa? Kumekuwako na changamoto yoyote ama imekuwa tu sawa kuhusu Mala?
Asende
Kwa sababu Mala kwa sasa hivi tangia iyo hali itokee, hii hali, hatujawahi kwenda naye kwa hospitali wala kwenye doctor yeyote. Hiyo siwezi nikasema changamoto kuhusiana na kwenda hospitalini
Interviewer
Mmeshaongeako na daktari kwenye simu, ama kwenye mtandao?
Asende
Ndiyo, kwenye simu.
Interviewer
Ni jukumu ya kila mtu kuvaa barakoa, na wanaita kwa marekani maski, eee? Na Mala naye anajua kuvaa barakoa yake, na umemwambia umuhimu saa ile atakuwa anatoka nje kuvaa hiyo barakoa?
Asende
Ndiyo. Mara nyingi akienda sehemu kwa sababu hivi kwa kwenda sehemu yoyote ile, kama ni sehemu ya labda watu wengine huwa anavaa barakoa lakini kwa humu ndani, la, hataki.
Interviewer
Na wewe kama mzazi, changamoto yako ilikuwa namna gani kwa sababu ilikuwa ni lazima uende kufanya kazi. Hiyo changamoto ulifanyaje nayo kwa sababu una watoto?
Asende
Changamoto iko, ni nyingi. Mimi nafanya kazi na kwa sababu tunapishana na mama yao, mimi na...na kwa sababu wenyewe hivi hawasomi siku hizi na kaka zake hawasomi, wako hapa nyumbani, zile saa ninapoenda, kwa mfano sasa hivi nitaenda kazini jioni, saa kumi. Nitasubiri mama yao aje, mimi naondoka. Sasa ninakuwa hapa kama vile walivyo.
Changamoto tu mimi mzazi ni vile kwamba ninafika usiku, na ninapolala, akina Mala wanatoka huko nje bila mimi kujua. Inakuwa changamoto ya mtu kuamka mapema, kila mara unaamka mapema na wewe ulikuwa unafanya kazi, ili kuangalia kama wanaweza kutoka bila wewe kujua.
Interviewer
Ni kweli, ni ngumu sana kama unaweza kuwasaidia na kazi za shule na wewe mwenyewe umetoka tu kazini na unaenda kulala. Yeah, ni muhimu sana pia wewe ujichunge, uweze kulala ndio upate nafuu pia ya kwenda kuwa na afya nzuri
Asende
Ndiyo
Interviewer
Anasema ulikuwa umeshamwelezeako kitambo vile Mala anapata changamoto ya... kawaida walikuwa wanaenda shule ya kawaida, lakini sasa wako kwa shule ya nyumbani. Hebu tuelezee.
Asende
Kwanza changamoto zenyewe ni kwamba wewe utafikiri ile saa yenye mtafanya makubaliano na mwalimu, tutakuwa na shule kuanzia saa fulani hadi saa fulani. Lakini sasa yeye hiyo saa ndio saa kwa mfano yeye alikuwa na... unajua Mala ni mtu wa matatizo... alikuwa anaangalia movie yake. Hivyo utakuwa sasa kumtoa huko kumwingiza kwenye mambo mengine inakuwa kama vile uchawi, yani ni ngumu sana. Anaingia kama vile hataki kabisa! Lakini ukimskiza tena, anarudilia. Sasa hiyo inakuwa ni changamoto. Inakuwa sasa, pale wewe unakuwa kama vile umshike shike, umbembeleze, sijui uongee mengi sana ili afikie hatua ya kusema hivi kwamba aliye nawe... Lakini kama anaingia kwenye jambo mengine yale yenye anapenda yeye mwenyewe...
Interviewer
Kama sasa hivi kaka, umeangalia jinsi ya kumsaidia Mala ili aweze kusoma? Umepata njia zile unaweza kuingia mwenyewe ndio Mala aweze kusoma?
Asende
Hivi, njia ya yeye kuweza kusoma kwenye...nafikiri shule itakuwa kwenye mtandao wakati wakifungua, manake... Nauliza shule mwaka huu, nafikiri haitafika...itafunguliwa au haitafunguliwa, kama aidha itasomewa huku kwenye mtandao tu.
Interviewer
Hiyo ni kitu mpya ile lazima muanze kutumia mtandao badala sasa ya mwalimu kumfundisha darasani.
Asende
Naam.
Interviewer
Umefanya vitu nzuri nzuri aina gani? Zile zimfurahishe Mala saa ile amekuwa nyumbani na nyinyi? Ama yeye amefanya kitu gani nzuri saa ile yuko na nyinyi nyumbani ndio mfurahi?
Asende
Yeye mara nyingi huwa anapenda music kwa sababu yeye mara nyingi toka Afrika alikuwa anapenda mpira sana lakini kuna mara hapa ukimtilia mpira, mechi fulani za huko...kama za huko Ulaya, za Uingereza huko, anaweza akaangalia na anafurahi vizuri, miziki ya kiafrika fulani na anacheza na anaangalia zingine...mara nyingi yeye mwenyewe acheza. Utamkuta yuko chumbani huko anaskia nani yake ....kule anacheza ye mwenyewe lakini ukiingia pale kuna mara tena anasitisha.
Interviewer
Sasa tuseme kwa mfano, hii maneno ya ugonjwa wa COVID hii ipungue kabisa, sawa? Siku zijayo, ungependa Mala awe namna gani kama COVID imekwisha?
Asende
Nafikiri hapo Mala atafurahia sana kwa sababu akienda shule, atakuwa anajiskia huru sana na atafurahia sana zaidi. Kuona wenzake pale shuleni itakuwa ni vizuri zaidi.
Interviewer
Wewe kama mzazi wa mtoto mlemavu, una mawaidha gani kwa wa...tuseme wale wazazi wana watoto walemavu, unaweza kuwapatia mawaidha gani?
Asende
Hiyo, ningesema tu kitu wavumilie kwa hao watu. Hata kwa wale wenye kuwa na Watoto wenye tatizo kama hayo ya wenye wana matatizo kidogo ya akili. Hawa... mara nyingi unaweza uka... atafanya kitu pale unamwambia sasa hivi, tena anafanya vile vile vyenye unamkataza, aidha zile zile zenye hautaki. Unaweza ukamchukulia hasira na kufanya vitu vingine.
Ujue namna gani, mbinu gani tunaweza tukawaconvince hawa Watoto ili wapate kuelewa. Hata kama hata aelewa lakini ili aweze kupata angalau nguvu ya kusema hivi kwamba, a-a, huyu mzazi mara nyingi akifanya hivi ina maana yeye anachukia.
Interviewer
Thank you, Asende
Asende
Na lingine ni kwamba kulingana na hii..fursa ingine yenye inatupasa yani hizi mpya za kompyuta..ni kwamba ni kweli ina leta matatizo kwenye familia kwa sababu kuna wengine hivi wanafikia hatua yenye kuona kwamba kwa kuchunga hao Watoto, lazima awache kazi kwa sababu bila kuwacha kazi atasababisha hata huyo mtoto anaweza kupata ... ukimwachilia huru zaidi anaweza akapata nani..matatizo hii ya, ya huu ugonjwa na kuna mara anaweza kuambukiza ata familia nzima.
Hivyo yeye mwenyewe anafikia hatua ile ya kusema hivi kwamba basi niache kwanza kazi ili nishikilie hii. Sasa akipata wazo kwamba huyu mtoto angelitoka, anaweza kupata mawazo mengine na hata yeye mwenyewe anaweza kuwa mgonjwa tena pia hata kama hajapata huu ugonjwa wa Corona.
Kwa hiyo ni vizuri sana kujivurugisha mawazo. Kama unakaa ndani bila kutumika, hata angalau angalia TV, tembelea hata watu wengine, unaenda na huyo mtoto wako kujua mnashirikiana. Mambo kama hayo. Unavurugisha tu mawazo kwa mambo mingi mingi. Japo hata mimi mawazo huwaga inanishika! Nyumba ya watu nitailipa namna gani, kitu nyingine inanishika...yani, mambo kama hayo.
Kuna wakati fulani unakaa ndani hivi mtu anaweza akakuuliza... Anakupiga swali, huku wewe hauko kwenye mawazo yale, uko kwenye sehemu nyingine kabisa ya kuwaza hali ya maisha.
Ni hivyo tu lakini, mara kuvurugisha mawazo ndio naweza nikasema ni kwamba iwe kitu muhimu kwa wale wenye kuwa na Watoto wenye kuwa na matatizo kama haya kwa sababu yale matatizo ni ya kwao pia.
Interviewer
Asante sana kuwapatia mawazo yako. Kuna kitu chochote kile unaweza kutusaidia nayo, kuhusu Mala, ama kuhusu wewe kama mzazi wa Mala?
Asende
Nafikiri tu ni kwamba najua tu Mala amekuwa na tatizo na mimi mwenyewe. Na ile kama ana tatizo ni familia nzima ambalo liko na tatizo kwa sababu sijui hatma yake ya huku mbeleni, na hili swala la..lenye linafuatiliwa la social security yake ningeomba lifanikishwe ili angalau ilinde mfuko. Mimi sijui hatma yangu, nitaishi miaka mingapi, nitaishi...nitaendelea kuwa aje. Naweza nikakosa usaidizi zaidi lakini kama Mala mfuko wake kidogo angalau inaweza ikamsaidia.
Naweza nikasemea kwa shule. Yani, angalau Mala.. Hapo shuleni wakati ata kama watawapigia hatua ya kurudi hapo shuleni. Au hata na angalau walimu wake wenye wanamwangalilia kabisa yeye mwenyewe ili afikie hatua ya kumuelewesha. Unajua hao watu kuelewa kwao inakuwa ni vigumu zaidi.
Na kama anasoma kwa watu wengi hivi, itakuwa ni vigumu kufikia hatua ya yeye kuelewa kwa sababu mwalimu mara nyingi huwa anaangalia majority ya wale wali...wamesikia vile ana... anaona pengine yawezekana wameelewa hii, kumbe wengine huku wanabaki nyuma zaidi hawajaelewa. Lakini kama ni mmoja mwenye anamwangalilia, itakuwa ni rahisi sana kuelewa matatizo yake na kumuelewesha vizuri.
Interviewer
Unafanya nzuri sana na anataka kukupongeza uendelee kumwangalia mtoto wako vile unamwangalia na hongera.
Asende
Asante, nashukuru.
Nationalities Service Center / INSPIRE
Nationalities Service Center (NSC) is Philadelphia's leading immigrant and refugee service organization empowering immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future.
NSC's Innovative Support Program for Immigrant and Refugee Empowerment (INSPIRE) serves immigrants and refugees with extensive healthcare needs and disabilities through case management and occupational therapy supports. Utilizing a strengths-based case management approach, the INSPIRE case managers work alongside clients to achieve goals, understanding, and self-sufficiency.
INSPIRE Team:
- Christina Kubica, MSW, LSW - Program Manager, Refugee Health and INSPIRE
- Kara Friesen, MA - Lead INSPIRE Case Manager
- Darya Nemati - INSPIRE Case Manager
About the Project
This project was made possible with generous support from the Independence Public Media Foundation.
This project was made possible with generous support from the Independence Public Media Foundation.
For more information
Contact us at [click-for-email].
The Disability and Change Symposium is available as a free online learning module.
Combating Implicit Bias: Employment
About this year's theme
Employment statistics for persons with disabilities continue to be disappointing, ~19% compared to ~66% of peers without disabilities. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). We ask ourselves, "is there something beyond overt discrimination and access that perhaps we need to address? Are there silent barriers such as those created by implicit bias?"
Most of us believe that we are fair and equitable, and evaluate others based on objective facts. However, all of us, even the most egalitarian, have implicit biases – triggered automatically, in about a tenth of a second, without our conscious awareness or intention, and cause us to have attitudes about and preferences for people based on characteristics such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. These implicit biases often do not reflect or align with our conscious, declared beliefs.(American Bar Association, Commission on Disability Rights, "Implicit Bias Guide," 2019)
This year's theme challenges us to each ask ourselves "What implicit bias(es) do we have and encounter, and how do we recognize them and move beyond them to create opportunities, welcome, and full participation for all?"
As always, this Symposium privileges first-person voices and experiences.
About the Disability and Change Symposium
The stated goal of the annual Symposium is "to create conversation that transcends any one-dimensional depiction of people with disabilities, and foregrounds the multidimensional lives of our speakers - as writers, educators, performers, and advocates."
The Disability and Change Symposium is a one-day, interdisciplinary conference focusing on cultural equity and disability. The event is free, accessible and open to the public.
Acknowledgments
Organized by the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, the Symposium is an outcome of collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Faculty Council on Disability whose mission is "to foster collaboration across Temple University on disability-related projects including research, teaching, programming, publication, and grant-seeking. By connecting with one another, Council members help build community among the growing number of people at Temple whose work engages with disability."
Core funding for the Disability and Change Symposium is through a grant from the Center for the Humanities at Temple University (CHAT)
We extend our appreciation to Disability Resources and Services for providing Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and American Sign Language services for the day.
The Institute on Disabilities, Temple University College of Education is pleased to recognize some of our 2020 Symposium Partners/Sponsors from Temple University:
- Center for Bioethics, Urban Health, and Policy (CBHUP), Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- Center for Humanities at Temple (CHAT), College of Liberal Arts
- Dean of Libraries
- Dean of Students
- Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society
- Disability Resources and Services (DRS), Student Affairs
- Division of Student Affairs
- Faculty Senate Committee on Disability Concerns
- First Year Writing
- Intellectual Heritage
- Interdisciplinary Faculty Council on Disabilities
- Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL)
- School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management
This year we also want to recognize the contributions of students (Associate Professor Deb Blair, STHM 2114 - Leisure & Tourism in a Diverse Society), who contributed to shaping and supporting this symposium:
- Madeline Culbert, School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management; Bachelor of Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management (est. 08/2021)
- Jair Guardia, School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management. (est. 08/2021)
- Hallie Ingrim, School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Bachelor of Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Thomas Leonard, School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Bachelor of Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management (est. 08/2021)
- Bryan McCurdy, School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management (est. 05/2022)