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Disabilities Awareness Panel

By Ken Pothier- Conributing Writer

The cover of the pamphlet says it all: "Accepting disabilities today, celebrating differences tomorrow." The Robert Frost Auditorium stage was set up living room style for eight current students  and two recent graduates of Southern New Hampshire University. It could have been the common room in a frat house, but the students all have a disability. During the following couple of hours, the students shared their challenges, uniqueness, triumphs, failures and feelings. They did so in a natural honest airing of their lives with a disability. Physical or emotional, those with disabilities refuse to be defined by the extra challenge life has given them. They insist that the varied ailments are just an accepted part of the whole person. A disability doesn't make them different, but unique. The main idea is to focus on the abilities, not the disabilities.

Facing obstacles requires knowing your strengths.  Succeeding in the university atmosphere just takes other ways of learning. The toughest part for some in earlier years was the discouragement before discovering what was wrong. Parents and advocates often had to fight for testing or pay for it themselves. Some had to fight to have the disability recognized once diagnosed. It was difficult to not know. At some point, there is an "A-Ha" moment. Now that we know, we can deal with it. Places like Middle School, where any difference could be picked on by the uninformed, were hell for some of these students. When you live with something each day, what is wrong is not always readily apparent.

Some of the students need occasional accommodations. There is no shame in admitting that a little help is needed to get schoolwork completed. Teachers need to be understanding. The adjustments may be as simple as longer time for papers, projects and testing. Accommodations are seen as a backup; they are there if needed to avoid getting stressed out. Fellow students, if asked, can help with note taking, reading and studying with those with disabilities. Those dealing with a disability strive to maintain confidence by consistently and persistently doing their best. All humans are individuals, and everyone should avoid stereotypes and embrace differences. We can learn how to help each other cope. If we can help someone, someone will help us. Just because someone has a disability does not mean that they are not intelligent. To the disabled, it is just another bump in the road. Do not walk on eggshells around them; see the person, not the disability. Life is social; embracing differences helps us get involved in finding common interests and branching out.

One of the unique students present has a working dog named Jasper, a seven year old yellow lab who slept through the program. He awoke toward the end from his "exhausting job" and licked himself. This was unique and perhaps a first for the University. Jasper was accepted and embraced by all in attendance. This reporter felt even more like he was in a frat house.

This was the fourth Disabilities Awareness Panel sponsored by the Office of Disability Services and the ADA/504 Compliance Committee of SNHU. If you have a disability or think you need some help, contact them. If someone looks like they could use some help, ask them if you can be of assistance.