Category: Informative

Thanks to all who were able to attend the 2018 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) keynote presentation, “Pay Me What I’m Worth: Valuing the Work of Disabled People” by Vilissa Thompson. This was our third annual NDEAM event. We hope you can join us for our fourth NDEAM event in October 2019!

For those who were unable to attend the Vilissa’s presentation, you can see what you missed in the video below.

• Event Files, Information, and Resources
  • Raw Live Transcript (Download)
  • PowerPoint Slides (PDF Download)
  • Flickr photo album
  • Related blog posts
    • Accessibility Commission’s Event Announcement
    • Inside Clemson’s Event Announcement
  • Event Flyer
  • Calendar Event
• Resources listed in presentation
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Economic News Release
  • Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
  • Lawmakers Work to End Subminimum Wages for Workers with Disabilities
  • Department of Labor: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
  • USA Today: Does my wheelchair make you uncomfortable? How my disability may have cost me a job.
  • The Arc: Employment Issues for People with Disabilities
  • The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability
  • Rooted in Rights: Bottom Dollars (Video Documentary)
• Vilissa’s Contacts and Website
  • Ramp Your Voice (http://rampyourvoice.com/)
  • Email: vilissa@rampyourvoice.com
  • Facebook – Ramp Your Voice
  • Twitter Handles: @RampYourVoice, @VilisaThompson, @WheelDealPod

For more on accessibility, check out Clemson’s Accessibility Web Portal.

As mentioned in the previous post, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). It is also Down-Syndrome Awareness Month.

In honor of these events, Clemson’s Outdoor Lab and Robert Lewis–a junior at Clemson University in ClemsonLIFE, an Outdoor Lab intern, a Down syndrome Advocate, and an absolute all-star–asked us to share the following video featuring some fun things to do during your event or stay at the Outdoor Lab.

Kudos to all who went into the making of this film!

Amenities from Chris Egan on Vimeo.

For the past 3 years, the Accessibility Commission has been hosting events in October in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year, we welcome speaker Vilissa Thompson who will present “Pay Me What I’m Worth: Valuing the Work of Disabled People” at the Watt Family Innovation Center on October 23 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. We look forward to Thompson sharing her insights and experience as a licensed master social worker; founder and CEO of Ramp Your Voice!; and accomplished disability rights consultant, writer and activist. This event is open to faculty, staff, students, and the community, and will feature a Question and Answer session at the end.

Additional information for this event is provided below, and a recording of the session will be made available.

• NDEAM 2018 Event in Clemson Calendar
• Inside Clemson NDEAM 2018 blog post

Who Is The Accessibility Commission?

The Accessibility Commission is a group representatives from different areas across campus, including the Office of Access & Equity, Student Accessibility Services, Facilities, Parking and Transportation, Campus Planning, Libraries, CCIT, Creative Services, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, the faculty body, the student body, and more. Each member have a passion for making sure that students, employees, and visitors with a diverse range of abilities have the tools and environments needed to be successful.

What Does The Accessibility Commission Do?

The Accessibility Commission promotes accessibility, equal opportunity, and quality of life for persons with disabilities by advising and making recommendations to Clemson University’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion (CUCDI) regarding all developments that could impact accessibility and the University’s commitment to equal opportunity and access. In some cases, members of the Commission are also involved in the implementation of these recommendations. Such implementations include:

• Providing enhanced access on campus to programs and facilities through wheelchair ramps, door openers, elevators, etc.
• Adding captions at home football and basketball games.
• Offering American Sign Language interpreters at applicable public events.
• Developing the Accessibility Web Portal which provides information about accessibility resources.
• Promoting and increasing awareness of accessibility.

To learn more about the Commission’s implementations and accomplishments, be on the look out for our next blog post, “5 Things You Didn’t Know The Accessibility Commission Did.”

When And How Did It Get Started?

As a way to reach Clemson University’s accessibility goals, President Barker established an Accessibility Task Force in 2010. Later, in November 2016, Lee Gill, Clemson University’s Chief Diversity Officer, commissioned the group to become the President’s Accessibility Commission, creating representation on the Council for Diversity and Inclusion.

Where Can I Get Involved?

If you would like to become a member of the Commission or would like to see additional representation from your area, please contact Priscilla Harrison. Members are encouraged to work in sub-committees throughout the year then share relevant progress reports and recommendations during Commission meetings held four times each year. If you think you are unable to participate in the Commission, but are interested in promoting accessibility, you can:

1. Use the design standards and guides on the Accessibility Portal to design accessible objects, content, and environments.
2. Increase accessibility awareness in your department or area of campus.
3. Report accessibility barriers (physical and digital).
4. Conduct your own accessibility-related research and share it with the Commission.
5. Keep an eye on this blog and on the Accessibility Portal for additional opportunities to contribute and participate.

Welcome to the Accessibility Commission blog!

What you can expect to find here:

• (Potentially) Additional details for upcoming accessibility events.
• Recordings for past accessibility-related events.
• Updates on various accessibility improvement efforts across campus.
• (Potentially) Information on how you too can make a difference!

Stay Tuned!