BOOK PROJECT: Thinking about disability

by Dave Jones
October 07, 2014

'THINKING IN PICTURES'

The book in paperback is available at UC Davis Stores for the discounted price of $11.95.

DISABILITY AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM

Held in conjunction with the Accessibility Tech Fair, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 9), multipurpose room, Student Community Center. Keynote address by Julie Schweitzer, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis, and the director of the ADHD Program at the UC Davis MIND Institute, on the topic "Myth or Reality?" — about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder (ADHD and ADD). Schweitzer’s address, from noon to 1 p.m., will be carried live on video in 1222 Education Building at the UC Davis Health System in Sacramento. Free and open to the public. See updated story on the Disability Awareness Symposium and Accessibility Tech Fair.

Temple Grandin’s Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism is giving everyone at UC Davis something to think about this year — disability and disability issues — in the 2014-15 Campus Community Book Project.

Grandin

Grandin, an expert in animal behavior who considers her autism a gift, not a disability, speaks frequently on disability issues, and she will visit the campus to conclude the book project in February.

Between now and then, the book project includes lectures, panel discussions, films, arts events and more — on autism and the UC Davis MIND Institute (a leader in autism research) and many other topics, including ADHD and ADD, Down syndrome, special education placement, fashion for women who use wheeled chairs and wheelchairs, and even disability in comics.

Everything is meant, like Grandin’s text, to promote dialog on a common subject, and at the same time encourage people to respect other people’s views in the diverse campus community. Everyone is encouraged to participate: students, faculty, staff and the public in general.

The Campus Community Book Project originated 13 years ago in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Each year’s book — always tied to a critical social issue — emerges from an open nomination and review process overseen by the Campus Council on Community and Diversity, and the Office of Campus Community Relations.

Many faculty members incorporate each year’s book or topic into their courses. Events outside the classroom are either created specifically for the book project, or relate to the year’s theme — for example, the Disability Awareness Symposium this Thursday (Oct. 9). See updated story on the Disability Awareness Symposium and Accessibility Tech Fair.

Project highlights in 2014-15

Two community panels are planned, the first one this Saturday (Oct. 11): “Parenting Children with Special Needs,” at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library, with panelists from UC Davis and the Davis community: Andy Jones, Kate Duren and Dale Flynn. The other is scheduled for Nov. 19 on the Sacramento campus: “ADHD Through the Lifespan.”

Here are some of the topics for lectures and other presentations:

“Design to Include: Fashion Designs for Women Using Wheeled Chairs and Wheelchairs — Kaino Hopper, Department of Design, UC Davis (Oct. 14)
“Navigate Autism: Supporting Families on the Spectrum” — Cynthia Sommer, director, EdForward, School of Education, and Tasha Oswald, postdoctoral fellow, UC Davis MIND Institute (Nov. 4)
“A Parent’s Perspective of Down Syndrome” — Heather Green, Down Syndrome Information Alliance (Nov. 14)
“Inequalities in Childhood Disability Identification and Special Education Placement” — Jacob Hibel, assistant professor, sociology, UC Davis (Nov. 19)
“Capes, Not Canes: Disability in Comics” — Karma Waltonen, lecturer, University Writing Program, UC Davis (Nov. 20)
“An Overview of MIND Institute Research” — Robin Hansen, director, clinical programs, and the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, MIND Institute (Jan. 21)

Three other programs deal specifically with college students:

“Autistic Students Navigating College” — Panel discussion, presented by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, Sacramento Chapter (Jan. 5)
“Living with Disability” — Panel discussion with UC Davis students , moderated by Susie Kisber, psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services, UC Davis (Jan. 21)
“Students with Asperger’s Disorder/High-Functioning Autism: Transitioning to College” — Joe Specter, psychologist, Student Disability center, UC Davis; and Patty Schetter, project coordinator, MIND Institute (Jan. 28)

The project includes three films — Today’s Man (Nov. 6), Temple Grandin (Nov. 24) and Autism: The Musical (Dec. 2) — and three events at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, starting with Azure: Music for Listeners on the Autism Spectrum, this Sunday (Oct. 12).

See the complete program.

UC Davis Extension is offering a free online course, “Foundations of Autism,” starting in November. Registration information will be provided at a later date.

Grandin will be here Feb. 10 for the following events:

Forum@MC — “Neurodiversity: The Line Between a Difference and a Disability, or Neurotypical in Context,” a panel discussion with Grandin; Susan Rivera, professor, Department of Psychiatry and MIND Institute; and Kristen Loutenstock, doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley. Moderator: Beth Ruyak, host of Insight on Capital Public Radio. 4-5 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Free.
Author’s talk — Based on her book Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism. 8-9:30 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center. Tickets: in person at the box office; by phone, (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787; or online. Book signing will follow in the Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby.

Grandin is no stranger to UC Davis, having visited as an animal scientist — she’s a professor at Colorado State University — and as a speaker on autism, able to help people understand it. In addition to Thinking in Pictures (updated in 2006 to include recent research, therapy and resources), Grandin has also written and co-written many other books about autism, Asperger’s syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Campus Community Book Project