Center for Diversity
Education Hosts Nationally Touring Photo Exhibit "Road to Freedom";
Portraits of People with Disabilities on Display,
Other Events Planned
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From "Road to Freedom" |
UNC Asheville's Center for Diversity Education
has been joined by 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
photos 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. "Road to Freedom"
will be on view March 15-April 17 in UNC Asheville's Karpen Hall
Lobby.
A companion exhibit, "Potential Unlimited = (dis)ABILITY," created
by UNC Asheville students and the Center for Diversity Education,
will also be on view March 15-April 17 in UNC Asheville's Karpen
Hall Lobby. 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.
An opening event will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 15, in UNC
Asheville's Karpen Hall Lobby. 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 Assistance Technology Resource Center of WNC will
demonstrate adaptive equipment. Local artists Mamma Ruth and David
Krafcik will display their work. At 4 p.m. 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 Asperger's Syndrome. The exhibitions and opening
reception are free and open to the public. They are designed for
audiences of all ages.
In addition to the two exhibits, a number of free lectures have been
planned, including:
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From "Road to Freedom" |
-- UNC Asheville Sociology Professor Heidi Kelley will lead a panel
discussion on the field of disabilities studies at 12:20 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17, in UNC Asheville's Highsmith University Union,
room 221. 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.
-- Bart Floyd, site coordinator for the Western Alliance Center for
Independent Living, will discuss the history and philosophy of
disabilities and independent living at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, March
19, in UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.
-- Monika McJannet-Werner will give a talk on "Awareness and Access
for People Who Are Blind" at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in UNC
Asheville's Highsmith University Union, room 221. McJannet-Werner is
the southeastern regional representative of the Helen Keller
National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults.
-- Jean Alvarez, parent trainer for the Autism Society of North
Carolina will guide a discussion on the complexity of autism and
Autism Spectrum Disorder at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in UNC
Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. Alvarez, a former special
education teacher, is the mother of an adult son with autism.
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From "Road to Freedom" |
-- Local residents who have experienced brain injuries will share
their stories at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in UNC Asheville's
Highsmith University Union, room 221. Karen Harrington, community
outreach coordinator of the Brain Injury Association of North
Carolina, will serve as moderator. 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.
-- 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 at 12:20 p.m.
Thursday, April 2, in UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.
Vance will speak again on the same topic at 6 p.m. in Laurel Forum.
-- A panel discussion hosted by the Family Support Network of
Western North Carolina will address the family's role in supporting
a person with a disability at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in UNC
Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. The Family Support Network
provides families faced with special health care, behavioral or
physical needs with emotional support and information from other
families with similar life experiences.
-- Cory Parker of the North Carolina Division for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing will give a talk on "Best Practices for the Inclusive
Classroom" at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at UNC Asheville's
Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. Parker, who is deaf, holds a bachelor's
degree in communicative disorders with an emphasis in deafness
rehabilitation. He recently taught American Sign Language classes
for UNC Asheville faculty and staff.
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From "Road to Freedom" |
-- Anne Fox, associate professor of English at Davidson College,
will explain how people with disabilities have been portrayed in
performance media – from film to theatre – at 12:20 p.m. Thursday,
April 16, at UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. She will
also discuss the current state of disability theater arts.
Interpretive services are available for all events with a seven day
notification to the Center for Diversity Education. Certificates for
continuing education credit will be distributed at each event.
The exhibitions are sponsored by Bi-Lo Charities, Janirve
Foundation, CarePartners, Mission Healthcare, Bank of America and
Chitwood and Fairbairn PA. Organizing partners include Care
Partners, Children's Developmental Services Agency, Family Support
Network, Irene Wortham Center, Mission Children's Hospital, City of
Asheville Parks and Recreation, Western Alliance Center for
Independent Living, UNC Asheville's Disability Services and UNC
Asheville's Equal Access student organization.
For more information, call UNC Asheville's Center for Diversity
Education at 828/232-5024.
