The Center for Disability and Access had its first weekly Craft and Connect event of the semester. This is part of its larger mission to increase outreach for students and raise awareness for the CDA’s services. The CDA will also be hosting Organizing Your Week, Sensory Exploration, Body Doubling and Reflect and Regroup events.
The CDA, located in SSB 350, assists students with physical and mental disability accommodations through self-reporting and documentation. Once students are registered, the CDA provides a notice to the students’ professors for accommodation or adjustments in their classes.
Crafting and connecting
Events like Craft and Connect provide students with a safe place to decompress and connect with others. Shalyse McKnight, the manager of neurodiversity services, explains how this space helps students with disabilities. “Since it started last semester, we’ve seen that students (with disabilities) like peer-to-peer interactions. They like the experience of somebody who’s also a college student and seen what they’ve seen. But it’s a struggle, they want to be social and engage but they’re not sure how to and that’s part of their diversity as well,” McKnight said. “We’ve offered them this space where they can learn about resources and meet people. We love that they’re using this hub.”
Craft and Connect offers “neurodiversity-friendly” activities. These are options that are texture-based and slower-paced than typical campus activities. McKnight said this can include painting and using beads, strings or paper to create. The activity is led by a peer mentor who can help students find resources and aid within the office. “Some students, especially coming out of the pandemic, struggle with their social skills. Our peer mentor is very helpful with that, making it a space for them to build their skills and have a good time. Our mentor is very versed in the different wellness hub options like financial wellness or health, so it makes it easier for students to have a connection and reach out to someone like them who can help,” McKnight said.
Relocation and services
The CDA office was previously in room 162 of the Olpin Union Building, but has since relocated to the Student Services Building. McKnight explained how this new space can help expand CDA’s services. “Last semester was our first full semester where we could try something new. We’ve never had this type of space before, and disability’s not a huge budget here. There is still a struggle in getting students to know this isn’t a scary building and there is a lot more here other than just courses,” McKnight said…