Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
March 04, 2005
Awareness Week Spotlights Access for Students with Disabilities
Raising awareness about accessibility to campus buildings and facilities for students with disabilities is the focus of an upcoming events-filled week at the University of Guelph.
Accessibility Awareness Week, sponsored by Residence Life and the Centre for Students with Disabilities, runs March 7 to 11. The week’s theme is “Opening Doors Through Opening Minds” and is designed to draw attention to the issue of access on campus for people with visual, hearing, mobility, learning, psychological and medical disabilities.
Events include lectures, discussions and fundraising activities, including a silent auction.
The week begins Tuesday when Paralympian and Canadian track champion Linda Hamilton will share her inspirational story of competing as a world-class athlete with a disability.
On Wednesday, student leaders who spent a day using a wheelchair on campus will discuss their experiences, and Thursday will feature a presentation by a volunteer for the Paralympics in Greece.
All three events run from 7 to 10 p.m. in Room 232 of the MacKinnon Building.
On Friday, there will be a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. at the Arboretum Centre by Jeff Adams, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist, sportscaster, motivational speaker and accessibility advocate. His talk is sponsored by the University’s Human Rights and Equity Office.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Samantha Walsh, senior residence assistant, Lennox/Addington Hall, at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 78573, or walshs@uoguelph.ca
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rebecca Kendall, Ext. 56982.
