March 15-April 17, 2009

UNC Asheville, Karpen Lobby

Also on display, "Road to Freedom: Portraits of People with Disabilities"

Reception: March 15, 3-5pm Karpen Hall Lobby

The Center has joined with a number of community groups to bring the nationally touring photography exhibition "Road to Freedom: Portraits of People with Disabilities" to Asheville. The exhibit of photo and text panels features children, teens and adults with the full spectrum of physical, sensory, learning and mental disabilities. It is on loan from the Family Diversity Project, a non-profit organization based in Amherst, Mass.

A companion exhibit, "Potential Unlimited=(dis)ABILITY," created by UNC Asheville students and the Center, will also be on view. This exhibit features photos and interviews with 12 local citizens whose lives have been affected by disability in some way, including personal, family, and professional experiences.

In addition to the unveiling of the exhibitions, a number of other events will be featured at the reception. The North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind and the Assitance Technology Resource Center of WNC will demonstrate adaptive equipment. Local artists Mamma Ruth and David Krafcik will display their work. At 4pm members of the Family Support Network will perform a short play entitled "Get It, Got It, Good" followed by a brief violin concert by Ben Mason, a Hendersonville musician with autism. The exhibitions and opening reception are free and open to the public. They are designed for audiences of all ages.

Lunch and Learn: Nine Panels and Presenations

Tuesdays and Thursdays (12:20pm-1:30pm)in Karpen Hall

Tuesday, March 17

Introduction to "Disability", Highsmith University Union, rm 221

UNC Asheville Sociology Professor Heidi Kelley will lead a panel discussion on the field of disabilities studies. Kelley holds a doctorate in anthropology and has been a member of the UNC Asheville faculty since 1990. In 1998, she suffered a massive stroke. She has since returned to teaching full-time and is a frequent speaker on disability studies and disability rights.

Thursday, March 19

Independent Living History and Philosophy, Laurel Forum

Bart Floyd, site coordinator for the Western Alliance Center for Independent Living, will discuss the history and philosophy of disabilities and independent living.

Tuesday, March 24

Awareness and Access for People who are Blind, Highsmith University Union, rm 221

Monika McJannet-Werner will give this talk and is the southeastern regional representative of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults.

Thursday, March 26

Understanding Autism, Laurel Forum

This discussion will be guided by Jean Alvarez, a parent trainer for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Alvarez  is a former special education teacher and the mother of an adult son with autism.

Tuesday, March 31

Brain Injury and Invisible Disabilities, Highsmith University Union, rm 221

Karen Harrington, the community outreach coordinator of the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina, will serve as a moderator as local residents who have experienced brain injuries share their stories. Some three years ago Harrington's son was in a severe car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. To help herself and other families cope with the aftermath of brain injuries, Harrington started a support group and is now a sought-after speaker and advocate.

Thursday, April 2

Universal Design, Laurel Forum

Architect Sean Vance, director of North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design, will discuss the history and developments in the field of universal design. Vance will speak again on the same topic at 6pm in Laurel Forum.

Thursday, April 9

A View from Our Shoes, Laurel Forum

Hosted Roxann Colwell of the Family Support Network of Western North Carolina, this panel discussion will address the family's role in supporting a person with a disability. The Family Support Network provides families faced with special health care, behavioral or physical needs with the emotional support and information from other families with similar life experiences.

Tuesday, April 14

Best Practices for the Inclusive Classroom, Laurel Forum

Cory Parker of the North Carolina Division for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will give this talk. Parker, who is deaf, holds a bachelor's degree in communicative disorders with an emphasis in deafness rehabilitation

Thursday, April 16

The Art of Disability Performance, Laurel Forum

Anne Fox, associate professor of English at Davidson College, will explain how people with disabilities have been potrayed in performance media--from film to theatre. She will also discuss the current state of disability theatre arts.

Interpretive services are available for all events with a seven day notification to the Center.

 Contact Deborah Miles at dmiles@unca.edu or 828-232-5024 to learn more.