Carrie Dattels, who is the director of disability and accessibility resources at 麻豆视频, will present the college鈥檚 2024 Disability Inclusion Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
The lecture will address the theme 鈥淢oving Hope Forward: Disability Inclusion by Design,鈥� which is an invitation to listeners to embark on a personal journey of introspection; to reflect on their beliefs and attitudes about disability; and to encourage a commitment to ongoing growth and learning in the journey towards greater disability inclusion.
The presentation will explore the imperative of shifting educational practices from reactive to proactive approaches in accommodating students with disabilities. By centering on the experiences of current students, the lecture will underscore the significance of anticipating and eliminating barriers through proactive measures rather than relying solely on retroactive accommodations. It will advocate for a paradigm shift towards universal design principles, emphasizing the creation of inherently inclusive environments that cater to diverse needs from the outset. Noting that collaboration among educators, administrators, designers and students is essential for identifying and addressing accessibility challenges effectively, the lecture will emphasize the importance of a culture of continuous improvement, responsiveness and adaptation to ensure that disability inclusion remains a dynamic and evolving priority at Hope College.
The doors will open at 3:45 p.m. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to participate in a question-and-answer panel discussion following the presentation.
Dattels has served 麻豆视频 in Disability and Accessibility Resources since 2016. Before Hope, she worked for Michigan Rehabilitation Services primarily with Allegan County high school students with disabilities. Dattels has a master鈥檚 degree in rehabilitation counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She serves on multiple boards, including the Michigan affiliate of the Association for Higher Education and Disability and Disability Network Lakeshore. Her professional and personal experience with disability informs her work leading the office charged with ensuring access to the full Hope College experience for students with disabilities.
The lecture is being presented by the college鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary and is incorporating the theme throughout the 2024 Diversity Lecture Series. CDI is using the 2024 Diversity Lecture Series to celebrate and honor those who have put their time and effort into creating a diverse and inclusive community at Hope. The celebration will continue through presentations scheduled across 2024, including most immediately the college鈥檚 Affirming LGBTQ+ Student Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
鈥淥ur theme for this time of celebration and reflection is 鈥�40 years of Belonging and Growing Together: 1984-2024,鈥欌�� said Jevon Willis, director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. 鈥淯tilizing CDI鈥檚 distinctive diversity spring and fall lecture series, each lecture will focus on the legacy of work and personal experiences connected with past and present leaders of CDI at Hope College.鈥�
Disability Awareness Month runs Oct. 1-31. The college鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion is presenting the Oct. 16 lecture in collaboration with the Hope Advocates for Invisible Conditions, Disability and Accessibility Resources, the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence, and the GROW Diversity Council.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets.