Attend IRC’s final meeting for the year with discussion on disability, higher education

salvetoday Posted On April 5, 2022
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The Inclusive Reading Club’s last meeting of the semester is Thursday, April 7, at 4 p.m. with guest facilitator Laura Kcira, disability services coordinator. The meeting will be hybrid, and participants can attend in person on the second floor of McKillop Library or join the conversation virtually. To register, go here.

One in five Americans — about 61 million people — are living with a disability. And while some disabilities are observable, many of those diagnoses are the kind that are not visible to others. Many have someone that they love who may struggle with one of these unseen diagnoses that can include depression, anxiety, learning differences or a variety of chronic illnesses.

The IRC will be reading excerpts from “About Us: Essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times,” a collection of personal accounts of people who are sharing their stories so that others may move beyond stereotypes and misconceptions and gain a deeper understanding of lives and circumstances for those living with disabilities. It’s also important to watch this video titled “Invisible Disabilities and Postsecondary Education.”

Get started with the readings and find discussion questions and a place to share thoughts on the IRC’s discussion board.

 Discussion questions to keep in mind:

  • From our readings, what stories have stayed with you? How have they impacted your worldview?
  • What are some of the disability rights issues the authors identified? How did people discuss fighting or advocating for their rights?
  • What are some ways that you can enrich and support disability culture in your role at Salve?

The mission of the Inclusive Reading Club (IRC) is to engage members of the Salve Regina community in exploring issues of diversity and multiculturism through short readings and discussions. The IRC provides an inclusive environment that encourages participants to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of different identities, cultures and communities.

The IRC is managed collaboratively by the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention and McKillop Library.

Featured photo by Getty Images/Newport00!