MUNCIE, Ind.-- This month is Disability Awareness Month, and the Ball State Alliance of Disability Awareness (ADA) has made plans to celebrate. One of these events was an art and pottery night on Wednesday night.
The program partnered with local Muncie business “Made in Muncie”, which is a pottery studio and art gallery that allows artists to make their own art.
ADA vice president Alyssa Tedeschi says events like this one are opportunities to teach students about accessibility and how it can be used in any circumstance.
“We organize these events for students all across campus to come together and show how accessibility can be shown everywhere,” Tedeschi said.
This stress on accessibility is one such challenge students and other people with disabilities face. Services like ramps and elevators that they use could be blocked off or out of use, which could be a challenge.
“Not a lot of people think about the students that need those opportunities to get places,” Tedeschi said. “Some students don’t feel like they’re hurt as much.”
Yet, she believes these events can help change how students see and think about disability and awareness. It can be done not just in transportation and getting around, but also in the way we speak.
“Just be aware of how you say things, how you talk, especially outside of events like this,” Tedeschi said. “There are lots of things you could say that could be taken the wrong way.”
So, whether painting a pottery turtle or sharing the elevator, we can all do our part to make everyone feel included in everything we do. One action at a time.
Contact Evan Shotts with comments at evan.shotts@bsu.edu.
