March Madness at Ball State University was about more than basketball. For disabled students across campus, the month was full of activities to raise awareness about the disabilities that students and faculty members have.
Associate Director of Disabled Student Development Megan Estelle said it was her office's role on campus to provide academic services for students with disabilities.
The disability awareness events were largely sponsored by Disabled Students in Action and the Disabled Student Development Office, she said.
In creating the events for the month of March, Estelle said the Indiana Governor's Council for Persons with Disabilities theme was highlighted. The council's theme for this year was "Disable the Label."
Disabled Student Development and Disabled Students in Action used the council's publicity and brochures, Braille cards and posters.
One of the many presentations given during the month was by Carlos Taylor, adaptive computer technology specialist. Estelle said his presentation on blindness provided anecdotes and insight because he is blind. Taylor gave the legal definition of blindness and talked about the types of blindness, personal experiences and blind myths.
Estelle said the Indiana Rehabilitation Association, Student Chapter also participated in events. The organization's theme for its presentation was to use first-person language for people with disabilities. Estelle said the focus was on putting the person before the disability when identifying. She said you would identify a person named Mary as "Mary who is blind" and not "the blind woman named Mary."
The organization also answered questions about disability. The student chapter said if a person is unsure about helping someone with a disability, they should just politely ask. Estelle said the answer may be no and not to be offended.
Ball State University has 37 wheelchair users, which was more than all other Indiana colleges and universities combined, Estelle said.
"If you talked to students they would say it's accessible because everything is off McKinley," Estelle said. "We have a long-standing history because of our philosophy."
The point of Disability Awareness Month was to raise awareness for all disabilities, she said. Of the disabled students that disclose their disability to the office, 75 percent of them do not have physical disabilities. Alt hough this year's focus was on physically disabled persons, people need to be cognitive of those in choice of language for all those who do not appear to have a disability.
"Our goal is to promote awareness," Estelle said. "It's more than the naked eye can see and I think the general goal is to treat all people with dignity and respect."
Director of Disabled Student Development Larry Markle, said he was proud of his department's variety of activities to raise the awareness about different disabilities.
"It's important for people to recognize disabilities as part of the diversity mix on campus," Markle said. "The activities are raising the awareness."
Markle said Ball State had a national reputation for accessibility and treatment of disabled students. He said among Indiana schools, Ball State had the most inviting attitude.
"The campus isn't perfect, but there is an attitude that is becoming and we want to make the campus accessible," he said.
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