South Middlesex Times

Rutgers University is marking Disability Awareness Month 2024 with a series of events and activities aimed at promoting inclusivity and understanding within the community. The month-long observance includes workshops, lectures, and interactive sessions designed to highlight the importance of disability rights and accessibility.

On October 7, the university will host the 3rd Annual RU Neurodiversity Summit and Resource Fair at Livingston Student Center in Piscataway. This event will feature a VIP Exhibitor Showcase with over 20 tables for attendees to explore.

A workshop titled "Empowering People: Disability Rights, Power, and Lived Experience" will take place on October 8 at Alexander Library in New Brunswick. It will feature speakers such as Sundeep Lyer from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, Gwen Orlowski from Disability Rights of New Jersey, and disability advocate Colleen Roche.

NJTIP travel instructors Jeffrey Dennis and Jackie Ng will lead a webinar on October 10 focused on helping individuals with disabilities navigate public transportation safely. This session is part of a broader initiative by Rutgers to improve accessibility for all community members.

The Boggs Center’s Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series continues on October 11 with Andy Arias presenting "Cultivating Change through an Intersectional Lens." This virtual event requires registration.

Rutgers' Adaptive Sports, Health and Wellness Day is scheduled for October 11 at Cook/Douglass Recreation Center in New Brunswick. Participants can engage in adaptive sports activities and attend wellness workshops without prior registration.

Throughout the month, various other events such as dance classes for neurodivergent adults, panel discussions on service dogs, webinars on PTSD awareness post-COVID-19, chair yoga classes via Zoom, and more are planned to foster dialogue around disability issues.

These initiatives underscore Rutgers University's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated year-round. For those interested in participating or learning more about these events, additional details are available through Rutgers' official channels.