Here at IU, the DSS has made an honest intense effort to reach out to many students on campus-- at least to my knowledge, most freshmen. These include students without and with visible and invisible disabilities. I will talk about the university-defined explanation of both of these disabilities later. They would come around to most English classes and talk about the existence of the DSS and how students can get help, be helped, understand more about disabilities, and get involved. I heard about the DSS in my English writing class and the representative made it very normal and inviting to stop by but did not talk much about disabilities and types of disabilities. This was a great talk for me because I found it very encouraging to consider the possibility of getting needed help if I needed it. She also explained the PUMP program, which is Peer Undergraduate Mentor Program. I think I will apply to volunteer there in the fall. But if interested, please click HERE.
- Visible Disability: A disability that is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment and various types of chronic disease.
Invisible Disability: A disability that is a hidden neurological conditions that presents significant challenges to learning, interacting with others, regulating mood and thinking patterns, and to otherwise experiencing a fulfilling lifestyle.
The 'R' word refers to retardation. Many Greek houses in IU had banners with this statement up for this campaign's awareness week. It definitely caused people to turn their heads or at least wonder what it meant. According to the Trading Laces program, which is a program that the Office of Admissions put together so IU students can experience or at least be informed of issues that face problems on our campus and others, the 'Stop the 'R' Word' campaign is very crucial to the Ability category. The other categories are Gender, Race and Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, and Socioeconomic Statuses. They have this to say about the subject:
"Originally, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” were medical terms used with specific clinical meaning; however, over time pejoratives such as “retard” and “retarded” have been and are being used to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. When people without disabilities use “retard” or “retarded” as synonyms for stupid or dumb it reinforces negative stereotypes about individuals with intellectual disabilities and can be dehumanizing. Students at the Norwich Free Academy put together this short film about the emotional impact of the r-word. Some people intentionally use the r-word to hurt or frighten people with intellectual disabilities; two brothers stood up for their sisters after having their home graffitied in this moving video. The r-word is just like any other pejorative term, no one should use it."
Many kids have invisible disabilities or at least have some minor set-backs intellectually and mentally that could prevent their doing their best work. They may not even know themselves that they have it. If anything, the DSS can help students learn how to focus better, which can lead to a higher achievement academically.
Think about it. It is okay to get help.