Colonnade

Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Campus News

     Monday, Oct. 1 Mayor Richard Bentley signed a city proclamation declaring October as Disability Awareness Month for the city of Milledgeville. After members of the community brought the idea to City Council, it was supported and accepted as an important addition to the public. GCSU is encouraging the new change with numerous events scattered throughout October.
     Dr. John Williams, retired director of Region 6 of the Georgia Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation Program and former president of Georgia Rehabilitation Services, came to address GCSU on Wednesday, Oct. 3. However, if students missed Williams, there are many other powerful speakers coming to discuss issues from living with disabilities, to the advancements made in modern medicine, and medical practices that affect those disabled.
     Recognizing those with disabilities has hit home for some students.
     “(This) is important because disabled students add an important diversity to campus,” freshman Audrey Reiner said.
     Another student, Heather Luyk agreed.
     “I think it’s good to spread awareness of things like this to better understand those with disabilities,” Luyk said.
     Some students on campus with family and friends that are disabled will find the month especially meaningful.
     Two guest speakers that will be coming are actually disabled themselves. Tuesday, Oct. 16 Eric Krug will be coming to share his story of how he was disabled in an alcohol-related auto accident. Yet, Krug won’t be telling his story himself. His mother’s voice will be speaking for him. He will be at A&S Auditorium at 7 p.m. The following week, Brandi Baggett will be speaking in the Museum Education room on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Baggett is a GCSU graduate a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling at Fort Valley State University. She is a quadruplet who has been legally blind since birth. Her story will surely be powerful and bona fide.
     For particular students who have never known someone who is disabled, this month could mean as little as the recent Constitution week. Yet, this is important and relevant to us all in our daily lives. Disabilities are real factors in the lives of our community members and it is vital to our understanding of one another, as well as to the spirit of kinship in the city. It is essential to support the parts of society of which we all interconnect.
     “I think it helps everyone understand that people with disabilities are people too,” Bell hall resident Carrie Burks said.   “People that are blind are not just ‘people that are blind’ and those in wheelchairs should not be known as ‘the people in wheel chairs’.”
     This month will recognize achievements made by those that are disabled.
     On Oct. 30 at 10:30 a.m., founding executive director of Disability Connections Jerelyn Leverett will be coming to share about her practices and involvement with disabilities. She has a form of muscular dystrophy called Charcot-Marie Tooth, and, with her husband, she plans to speak in regard of Disability Awareness Month.
     Overall, October will be a month paving a way for the understanding of disabilities and their effect in our lives. Alix Erola-Rebellato, freshman at GCSU, sums Disability Awareness up by saying, “It is important so as not to be ignorant to your fellow man.”

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