OSWEGO -- A number of activities designed to raise
awareness of disability issues are planned for Challenge Perceptions
Week, March 22 to 27 at SUNY Oswego.
At 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 22, in Room 221 of Hewitt
Union, Sabine Ingerson of ARISE and Walt Snyder of Person-to-Person
Citizen Advocacy will discuss services these local agencies provide for
disabled individuals.
A faculty panel at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24,
will feature SUNY Oswego professors from across the disciplines talking
about disabilities in the classroom. Rolando Arroyo-Sucre, assistant
provost for social equity, will moderate the panel.
The Syracuse Flyers will challenge the Oswego State
men's hoops team to a wheelchair basketball game at 2 p.m. Saturday,
March 27, in the Lee Hall gymnasium.
There is no admission charged for any of the
activities, and the public is invited.
Dan Preston, director of disability affairs for the
college's Student Association, spearheaded the activities. Events are
sponsored by the Student Association with support from the college's
Committee for Services to Students with Disabilities.
Organizing a week of activities has long been a goal
for Preston, who uses a wheelchair but has not let challenges slow him
down in pursuing his education or raising awareness for causes. He
holds bachelor's degrees in computer science and English literature
from SUNY Oswego and is currently pursuing his master's in English
literature at the college.
The week of events represents part of a broader
project to support this cause on the SUNY Oswego campus. On Thursday,
March 11, SUNY Oswego students supported the Christopher Reeve
Paralysis Foundation through the Miss-a-Meal program. This fund-raiser,
which happens every semester, asks students to forego one meal and
donate that money to a specific charity instead. The fall edition of
Miss-a-Meal raised $5,429 for the local chapter of ARISE to support
services to those in the community overcoming physical
challenges.
Persons with disabilities seeking accommodations to
attend Challenge Perceptions Week events should call 312-3601 in
advance.