New course to cover disabilities

This spring, the sociology department will offer a new course covering issues related to one of the largest, but least studied minority groups in America -- people with disabilities. The course -- S101: Social Aspects of Disability -- will meet at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays next semester. \n"I think this course has a lot to offer to anyone who has a friend or relative with a disability, to anyone planning a career working with the disabled, and to people with disabilities themselves," said instructor Sandi Nenga, a doctoral student. \nShe said future teachers, social workers, managers and medical professionals would benefit from the information to be covered in the course. Students will discuss all types of disabilities.\n"This is a topic that I think should appeal to a very broad range of students on this campus from a broad range of disciplines," said Brian Powell, director of graduate studies. "This would be a wonderful opportunity really to explore what are the obstacles and the barriers people with disabilities face."\nThe class will be valuable, said undergraduate adviser MaryLou Hosek, because chances are everyone will encounter a person with a disability in the workplace at some point.\n"You can't always identify someone with a disability. It's not always visual," she said. "You need to know how to ask the right questions."\nThe group will assess the accessibility of campus buildings to people with disabilities and discuss what kind of accommodations could be made. Other topics will include technology to assist people with disabilities, the pros and cons of mainstreaming students with disabilities at school, telethons and fundraisers and the controversy surrounding cochlear implants, a device to assist those with hearing impairments.\n"We will look at discrimination and struggle, but we will also discuss the triumphs and humor of disabled people," Nenga said.\nSimilar courses have been offered through the School of Education, the American Studies department and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. But Nenga said this course will show a different perspective.\n"I don't know of any course on this campus which allows students to explore the social context of physical, learning, sensory and developmental disabilities," she said.\nNenga brings a personal knowledge of disability to the course. She has an orthopedic disability that causes chronic pain.\n"My personal experience ... led me to see that disability is a topic which affects everyone," she said.\nBut the information isn't as important to Nenga as the attitude of inclusion she hopes students develop.\n"I would like students to leave the course with a greater awareness of disability issues and an understanding of disabled peoples' perspectives," she said.