Disability Services for Students fair educates students on resources

Disability Services for Students organized an information fair Thursday at Herman B Wells Library as the kickoff to Disability Awareness Month, with many IU and Bloomington groups participating.

Whitney Jones, learning disabilities coordinator, said the organization focuses on getting students with disabilities individualized testing and classroom
modifications.

The organization works with about 100 students. Jones said she wants to help college students reach their full potential.

Sophomores Audrey McCalley and Taylor Guerrini are both involved with the IU chapter of Autism Speaks U, which was started this school year to raise awareness and advocate for people with autism. Sophomore Travis Moore helped start the organization after working with an autistic child. He said the group has grown to almost 50 members.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, and many colleges and landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, are lighting up in blue to support those with autism. Moore said he hopes to light up the Sample Gates.

Nancy Griffin works with the Brain Injury Association of Indiana, an organization that helps people with brain injuries and their families lead more normal lives.

Griffin has been volunteering for 20 years. When she worked in Indianapolis as an advocate, she was chosen to work with a man who had a brain injury and lived in a homeless shelter. The man had lost everything, she said.

“It was a really frightening situation,” Griffin said.

Griffin helped the man to get a ticket to see his sister in Oklahoma, where she knew he would be able to receive treatment. Eventually, the man moved out of his sister’s home, obtained a job and reconnected with his children. Griffin has been working to try to improve treatment for Indiana residents with brain injuries.

Ben Neale is an intern at the IU Health Center’s Counseling and Psychological Services. He said psychological distress often accompanies physical disabilities.

“We bring services to a population that I believe is underserved,” he said. “We offer a lot of services, such as individual and group therapy. We’re committed to making our services available for people with disabilities on the IU campus.”

Scott Ferguson is an employee at the University Information Technology Services Adaptive Technology and Accessibility Centers, which provide assistance to students, faculty and staff who have trouble reading, hearing, writing or using a computer. One example of its work is the Dragon Naturally Speaking software, which translates speech into text.

“It’s a pretty highly functioning product,” Ferguson said.

Jones said she thinks the attendance was down from last year, but said the library is a great location for the fair.

“The goal is to promote greater awareness of disabilities on campus,” Jones said. “We want to make sure we get our name out there. We’re here to help.”