Posts filed under: inclusion

Feb. 9
Media Workers with Disabilities Needed for Research Study

Melissa Sgroi, chair of the Communications Department at Misericordia University is doing a study on media workers with disabilities and is seeking media professionals with disabilities of any type who took at least one journalism or communications course in college (no degree required). They must have had a disability as a student and are now working in some facet of the media -- TV, radio, PR, graphic design, advertising, etc.

The study is important because there is no literature addressing media professionals with disabilities who made the transition from college to work (and very little about students in journalism/mass communications education). Sgroi believes the results will shed light on their experiences and thus help educators and others improve these experiences in the future.

Full announcement below

Melissa Sgroi, a doctoral candidate at Wilkes University who is also a communications educator and former print and broadcast journalist, is conducting a research study titled “The Essence of the College-to-Career Experience of Media Professionals with Disabilities.” The study seeks to describe the experience of media professionals with disabilities who took course work in journalism or mass communications in higher education and successfully made the transition from college to the media workplace. A degree is not required.

Media professionals with disabilities are invited to share their perceptions of their experiences in college and their careers. This knowledge and insight may help educators, media professionals, and industry leaders improve the educational and workplace experiences of both students and workers. You must be willing to participate in an hour-long interview and submit a media product that you feel in some way represents your experiences. Some information in the interview may be considered sensitive or personal in nature. All information will be kept strictly confidential and your name will not be used in results or reports.

To qualify, you will:

  • Be a full-time, part-time, freelance, contract, retired, or currently unemployed worker in any business or non-profit organization in which your work directly contributes to the creation of media products.
  • Have a disability.
  • Have taken journalism or mass communications course work in postsecondary education at a two or four-year degree-granting institution in the U.S. A major or degree is not required.
  • Have had a disability as a postsecondary student.
  • Be a legally independent resident of the United States.
  • Be at least 21 years of age.

All participants will receive lunch at a restaurant of their choice with a maximum value of $20. Please contact Melissa Sgroi at melissa.sgroi@wilkes.edu or (570) 674-6744 to receive more information.


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Filed Under: education, higher education, inclusion, media

May 30, 2011
WLTX-TV (Columbia, S.C.)
Student Recognized for Academic Excellence Despite Disability
When someone hears that a child has a disability they may think of down syndrome or being physically disabled. But imagine having a disability that no one can see and others thinking you're just plain difficult.

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Filed Under: education, inclusion, K-12, learning disability

April 10, 2011
The Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette
Berne Union senior adapts to life, softball with disability
It's the best sleight-of-hand trick you'll see on a softball field, and Alanna Sanborn has it down cold. The Berne Union senior outfielder camps under fly balls, catches them with her left hand, and in one fluid motion tucks her glove under her right arm and comes up throwing with her left. It's a technique that Sanborn has mastered not because she's a show-off, but because she's had to.

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Filed Under: education, inclusion, K-12, profile, recreation

Feb. 17, 2011
CNN
Teen athlete says he was cut from team due to disability
Like most kids, Anthony Burruto started playing baseball in community Little League, ultimately joining the high school team. Born with a birth defect, Burruto, 16, had to have both legs amputated below the knee shortly after he was born. He has played baseball since he was 8, thanks to prosthetic legs.

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Filed Under: education, inclusion, K-12, physical disability, recreation

Feb. 16, 2011
ESPN.com
Michael Lizarraga inspires 14-year-old
He received the e-mail only a few weeks ago, but already Christopher Caulfield has big plans for the missive.

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Filed Under: education, hearing impaired, higher education, inclusion, K-12, recreation

Feb. 2, 2011
KUSA-TV (Denver)
Local recruit turns disability into advantage
He's 6 feet 5 inches tall and nearly 300 pounds, but that's not what makes Justin Hansen such an impressive recruit for the CSU Rams' football team.

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Filed Under: autism spectrum, education, higher education, inclusion, K-12, recreation

Aug. 18, 2010
Chicago Tribune
U. of I. opens state-of-the-art dorm for students with disabilities
With very limited use of her arms and legs, Kelsey Rozema has needed her parents' help with most daily tasks — getting out of bed, showering, putting on a coat and even opening a water bottle. In 18 years, they've been apart for only six nights.

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Filed Under: education, healthcare, higher education, inclusion, long-term care, physical disability, profile

Aug. 14, 2010
Contra Costa (Calif.) Times
Former Monte Vista High lacrosse player Ian Sullivan doesn't let disability slow him down
Let it be known that there is nothing wrong with Ian Sullivan. Sure, upon first meeting him you might notice a slight limp on his right side, but everything about him seems to scream "normal teenager." He likes hanging out with friends, working out, playing video games and basketball. All the typical teenager stuff.

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Filed Under: education, inclusion, K-12, profile, recreation

June 26, 2010
York (Pa.) Daily Record
Disability-friendly playground opens at Cousler Park
The new playground at Manchester Township's Cousler Park looks exactly the way 10-year-old Noah McClymont envisioned it.

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Filed Under: children, inclusion, recreation

June 25, 2010
The (Ala.) Decatur Daily
People with disabilities offer ‘gifts’ to churches
Places of worship need to truly value people with special needs, said Ginny Thornburgh, director of the interfaith initiative of the Washington-based American Association of People with Disabilities.

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Filed Under: inclusion, religion