October 17: IT Workshop with Debra Ruh - JTSU Alumni Room - 3PM 
Debra Ruh will give a special workshop for IT Faculty and Staff: Debra will speak on Universal Design, integrating accessibility into the design and procurement process, IT responsibilities to students and the community, functional accessibility and the meaning of true access.
October 19: Luncheon with Debra Ruh - JTSU Alumni Room - 12PM 
Renowned advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, information technology expert Debra Ruh is also founder and president of TecAccess — and an employer who values the abilities of persons with disabilities. Ruh is committed to breaking down barriers and developing and supporting the talents and skills of special needs adults in corporate America.
FREE, includes lunch!
TecAccess Internet Site
In observance of National Disability Awareness Month, the University of Nevada, Reno is hosting a series of free events and lectures in October 2006 as part of its ongoing initiative to increase awareness, accessibility and opportunities for people with disabilities within the university community.
Thursday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Location: Truckee Meadows Community College, Dandini Campus. Plenty of fun events will be offered including performances by the Note-Ables, interactive demonstrations of adaptive recreation equipment, a booth fair, free refreshments and parking, and more. Featured speaker, extreme athlete Mark Wellman will present "Beyond the Barriers." Visit http://www.tmcc.edu/drc for more information. FREE, includes refreshments!
Thursday, Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m. Location: Nevada Museum of Art, Wayne and Miriam Prim Theatre. With a focus on developmental disabilities, films including short documentaries, animation, narratives, performance and music videos will be shown as part of the museum's First Thursday series. Sponsored by The Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center (NDALC), the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and Washoe ARC. For more information call NDALC, (775) 333-7878. FREE for museum members/$10, nonmembers.
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 5 p.m. till after dark. Location: Bartley Ranch Park and Amphitheater. A family-friendly evening is planned with music and a potluck picnic hosted by Washoe ARC and the ADD program partners (The Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center , the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and the Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities). At sunset the comedy "Stuck on You" (PG-13) will be shown in Bartley Amphitheater. FREE, bring a favorite dish!
Thursday, Oct. 12, noon. Location: UNR, Jot Travis Student Union Alumni Room. Author Rachel Simon has written a page-turning personal story about the yearlong bus trip she took with her sister, Beth, who happens to have developmental disabilities. Their inspiring journey was also made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie by Rosie O'Donnell, who plays Beth. Rachel Simon will share her chronicle of their remarkable bus odyssey and the lessons learned along the way. FREE, includes lunch!
Thursday, Oct. 19, noon. Location: UNR, Jot Travis Student Union Alumni Room. Renowned advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, information technology expert Debra Ruh is also founder and president of TecAccess—and an employer who values the abilities of persons with disabilities. Ruh is committed to breaking down barriers and developing and supporting the talents and skills of special needs adults in corporate America. FREE, includes lunch!
Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Location: Western Nevada Community College , 2201 West College Parkway , Carson City. World-champion sit-skier and gold medalist, Candace Cable will speak about choosing victory as part of Western Nevada Community College 's annual speaker series and Disability Awareness Month. For more information call WNCC, (775) 445-3275. FREE, includes refreshments!
Monday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. Location: McKinley Arts and Culture Center, Suite 6, 925 Riverside Drive. Enjoy an evening highlighting the programs and activities of the Note-Ables, a nonprofit organization that provides musical opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. A studio tour and short performance will be included. Space is limited; please RSVP by calling (775) 324-5521, or for more information visit http://www.note-ables.org. FREE, includes a light buffet!
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Location: UNR, Robert Barnes Plaza at Getchell Library. Come join the first annual Accommodations Fair for students and prospective students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Disability service administrators, students, parents and community members will have opportunities to see accommodations "in action" at exhibit booths. In conjunction with the Accommodations Fair, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy Resource Center will be hosting a Deaf Fun Day on the Jot Travis Student Union lawn. This event will have fun social and educational activities for deaf and hard of hearing youth from northern Nevada. For more information call Mary Anne Christensen in the University's Disability Resource Center , (775) 784-6000. FREE, includes noontime barbecue!
Wednesday, Oct. 25, noon. Location: UNR, Legacy Hall. Major League Baseball star Jim Eisenreich, a huge fan favorite who played for the Minnesota Twins and later the Philadelphia Phillies, was forced to retire when he began suffering from symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome. After treatment for the disorder he returned to baseball and in 1997 as a Florida Marlin helped his team win the World Series. FREE, includes lunch!
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Location: Peppermill Hotel and Casino. The Nevada Business Leadership Network will be recognizing exemplary individuals, businesses and organizations for making positive changes to the social landscape of employment opportunities for Nevadans with disabilities. For more information or to purchase tickets call (775) 544-6046.
National studies have shown that 1 freshman in 11 entering higher education each year will have a documented disability. The University of Nevada, Reno Disability Resource Center, which opened in 1996, provides services to more than 880 students with disabilities.
In 1945, U.S. Congress designated the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week, with the aim of helping disabled veterans. The word "physically" was later removed to recognize the needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In the 1970s, a shift in public policy led to further amendments fueled by the belief that discriminatory acts of exclusion and segregation against people with disabilities should be addressed through the courts. As a result, the U.S. saw passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and the designation, by presidential proclamation, of a full month to increase public awareness and acknowledge the capabilities of the 30 million people of working-age in the U.S. who live with disabilities.
For more information about the University of Nevada, Reno Disability Awareness Month events, or the University's initiatives and services for people with disabilities, call Mary Anne Christensen at the Disability Resource Center, (775) 784-6000, email maryac@unr.edu, or visit: http://www.unr.edu/stsv/slservices/drc
