Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2004

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

To help the campus community recognize the challenges and triumphs of people with disabilities, the University of Houston will host DisAbility Awareness Week (DAW) Oct. 25-29.

DAW educates UH staff, faculty and students about disability issues with an emphasis on the abilities of people with disabilities.

This is the fifth year Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) has hosted and coordinated events, including symposiums, a mental health fair, a wheelchair basketball game and a campus tour in which faculty, staff and students are led throughout the campus in wheelchairs.

CSD works to ensure that qualified students with disabilities may successfully compete with non-disabled students at UH. Further information about these activities can be found at http://www.uh.edu/csd/.

EVENTS ARE:

Kick-Off: Oct. 25, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Lynn Eusan Park
An appearance by the “High-Tech Texan” Michael Garfield, entertainment by Gary Neal and the Bayou City Bloooze Brothers Band, and activities, including wheelchair races and a blindfolded obstacle course, kick off the week. Outstanding Student, Faculty and Staff Awards will be presented, and a free lunch will be provided. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Mental Health Symposium/Mental Health Fair: Oct. 26, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. – University Center, Houston Room
Texas Rep. Garnet Coleman and Ken Arfa, psychiatrist with UH Health Center, will speak. A free lunch will be provided.

Law Symposium: Oct. 27, noon -1 p.m. – UH Law Center, Room 240 in Bates Law Building
Jim Savage, UH alumnus and assistant Harris County attorney, will discuss the law and the challenges of obtaining a job as a person with a disability. A free lunch will be provided, courtesy of Chinese Star Restaurant.

Campus Tour: Oct. 28, 10 a.m. -noon – Center for Students with DisABILITIES
Students who have visual or mobility impairments will lead a campus accessibility tour for faculty, staff, administrators and students. Refreshments will be provided.

Wheelchair Challenge: Oct. 28, 6-9 p.m. – Campus Recreation and Wellness Center
Teams of students – some regular wheelchair users, others not – will play against each other.

For more information about any of the above activities, to RSVP, or to request accommodations and/or transportation to any of the above events, please contact the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) at (713) 743-5400 (voice), or (713) 749-1527 (TTY).

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.