Posted 11:57 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2024
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
By Teri Holford, interim Outreach Librarian
Collaboration across campus units and departments combines perspectives and efforts to get the word out and amplify a message. Here in Murphy Library, we welcome partnerships in multiple ways. Whether it’s a combined effort for a display, an event, or sharing resources, we understand that there is strength in numbers.
Currently, there is an passive interactive display on the ground floor of Murphy Library to advocate for student wellness and the student org DREAM (Disability Rights, Education, Activism & Mentoring). Brought together by UWL’s Wellness & Health Advocacy and DREAM to bring awareness to Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, to “highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities” and create a more inclusive world.
Issy Beach, UWL’s Student Wellness Coordinator, has wanted to partner with DREAM for a long time, and reached out to the org’s student advocates to brainstorm ways to amplify awareness. The display, located in a prominent place as you walk into the library, welcomes students and personnel to contribute to collectively painting a map of the world spread out over two canvases. The display has several small bottles of paint dotters that create dots of paint. Participants can also scan the QR Code to enter the giveaway (winners announced March 29). Prize Pack 1 includes a tote bag, pop-it keychain hand sanitizer, hot.cold pack, and a UWL t-shirt. Prize Pack 2 includes a tote-bag, pop-it keychain hand sanitizer, hot/cold pack, and an outdoor blanket.
As participants come to interact with the display, they can read about Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, DREAM, UWL’s Wellness & Health Advocacy, and UWL’s Peer Health Advocates. Undergraduates who are passionate about health, wellness and social justice come together to promote their training workshops, presentations, programs focused on financial, spiritual, emotional, environmental, social and cultural, career, academic, physical and sexual health.
The display will be up for one week, so drop by when you’re in the library!