Making UT Austin Accessible and Welcoming for Students with Disabilities
November 2023 D&A Newsletter
NOVEMBER, 2023
Content Overview
· Important deadlines for CTC final exam reservations
· Nominate an Accessibility Champion
· December Disability Graduation/ End of Semester Celebration 2023
· Disability Cultural Center November Events
· D&A will be closed for Thanksgiving on November 24th and 25th.
Campus Testing Center Requests
As remaining exams and finals are coming up, ensure any exams you plan to take at the Campus Testing Center (CTC) are scheduled for the remainder of the semester. If you do not see any remaining exams in RegisterBlast, you will need to check in with your instructors prior to the following deadlines to ensure they schedule exams, then ensure you have signed up for those exams. If you have any concerns with RegisterBlast, you should contact the CTC directly: campustesting@austin.utexas.edu.
· Final date for instructors to submit fall semester exam schedules in RegisterBlast: November 27
· Final date for students to book fall semester appointments in RegisterBlast: November 30
Nominate an Accessibility Champion
Disability and Access (D&A) and Disability Cultural Center (DCC) are excited to collaborate on this year’s Accessibility Champion Awards (formerly D&A Appreciation Awards). Each semester, we have asked students to nominate faculty or staff who have demonstrated excellence in ensuring the university is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to students with disabilities. This year, we are thrilled to be broadening the scope of this award. We now invite students, faculty, and staff who identify as disabled or having a disability to nominate any student, faculty, or staff member who has positively impacted your semester! Nominations will be accepted through Thursday, November 30th.
December Disability Graduation/ End of Semester Celebration 2023
Join Disability and Access, Disability Cultural Center, and campus partners for UT’s December Disability Graduation and End of Semester Celebration on Tuesday, December 5th from 12:30-1:30pm in the Glenn Maloney Assembly Room on the ground floor of the Student Service Building!
Disability Graduation is a time to celebrate our disabled graduates, those graduating with the Critical Disability Studies portfolio/minor, and the broader UT community who have supported them during their university experiences!
The event will feature an in person reception with food, drink and opportunities to mix and mingle. Learn more and RSVP on the D&A website.
Disability Cultural Center November Events
The Disability Cultural Center (DCC) is a unit within DCCE that focuses on developing programming and building community around disabled community and identity. Check out the DCC website for a full list of upcoming events and opportunities. During the month of November, events include:
Crip Conversations | Disability as an Aesthetic: Disability Justice in the Arts with Patty Berne
Join Dr. Nick Winges-Yanez for a discussion with artist and activist Patty Berne. This seminar will focus on the praxis of disability justice and its incorporation into creative work as practiced by Sins Invalid*. Attendees will view film selections from Sins Invalid’s repertoire, followed by discussions of artists’ works, the directorial process, and the transformation of the theater into a liberatory space — for both performers and audience alike. *Sins Invalid commits itself to reflecting the beauty of disability and the non-normative body, centering disabled artists of color and queer / gender non-conforming artists with disabilities.
· Date and Time: November 7, 2023 • 5:00PM – 6:30PM
The Disability Cultural Center and Longhorn TIES will be hosting monthly Students on the Spectrum social activities and discussion nights. This group provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students who identify as autistic to connect, play games, and share experiences and resources with one another. No proof of diagnosis is required. Pizza will be provided; please RSVP to help with planning.
· Date/ Time: Wednesday, November 8th, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
· Location: SSB 3.200 (DCCE Commons)
Disabled and Neurodivergent Student Study Space / Body Doubling Space
Hosted by the Disability Cultural Center and Longhorn TIES Neurodiversity Support, these come-and-go study and “body doubling” spaces provide an opportunity for disabled students, neurodivergent students, and friends to be productive with community in the DCCE Commons (SSB 3.200). Stop by for snacks, company, and a protected opportunity to work on assignments, emailing, or other tasks on your to-do list.
· November Dates/ Times:
· Tuesday November 14th, 2-4pm
· Wednesday Nov 29th, 5-7pm
· Location: SSB 3.200
Disability Discussions
Join the DCC in discussion around a variety of disability-related topics each week. Whether you want to learn from other disabled people or have experiences or resources you are willing to share, these Disability Discussions provide space to have conversations you may not be able to have anywhere else. Let’s harness the power and expertise of the UT Disability Community! Sign up for any/all session!
· November Dates/ Times:
· November 1st: Traveling with a Disability
· November 8th: Disability Self-Care Strategies
· November 14th: Food and Disability
· Location: SSB 3.200K/Zoom
Disability Culture Conversations
These monthly virtual meetups are designed to provide a space for students, faculty and staff to come together to learn about topics related to disabled identity and the disability community. See date and topic below:
Disabled Advocates: Finding Community and Sustaining Self-Care
Disabled members of the UT community are invited to gather together to share experiences, problem solve, and engage in mutual support around advocacy with other disabled advocates. Whether you feel like you are constantly the “go to” person for accessibility because of your disability identity or you aren’t sure how to advocate for yourself in a certain situation, come find support and community within this group. RSVP to participate in this group conversation!
· Date/ Time: Wednesday, November 15th, 12:00 – 1:00pm
· Location: SSB 3.200k/Zoom
Important Dates
November 23-24: D&A is closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday
