Volume 125 Issue 105
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013
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UNITED FRONT
George Li, a senior from Overland Park, meets with the AbleHawks group about its upcoming projects on Monday, April 15. Among other projects, it has raised around $1500 for the upcoming Relay for Life.
RHIANNON ROSAS/KANSAN
EMMA LEGAULT elegault@kansan.com
Elizabeth Boresow has come a long way already.
It takes courage to find your voice. It's a lifelong process, and for some it can be incredibly challenging.
A senior from Overland Park studying music therapy, Boresow enjoys spending time with friends at her residence hall, where she is known by her nickname, "EB". plays piano for Wesley KU and loves tutoring other students in calculus ("It's so much fun," she said). She has an internship with Lawrence Public Schools as part of her major, but she enjoys taking classes outside of that, like basketball. She's cares about her role as president of the student group AbleHawks and Allies.
Boresow is also a student with autism. She's among the 700 students on campus that identify themselves as having a disability, and although she faces some different challenges than other students,
she experiences college the same as her classmates.
At the University, AbleHawks is advocating across campus for those with disabilities and accessibility needs. The group is made up of about 12 members of all abilities who work with the director of accessibility in ADA Education and the office of Institutional Opportunity and Access.
"It's not disability club, this is a club for everyone," Boresow said. "It's a student group for people — students, staff, whover — all these people who care about accessibility"
Currently, the group is addressing issues of transportation between Jayhawk and Sunnyside Boulevard as well as working to facilitate an accessible entrance in the front of Strong Hall.
"You wouldn't believe that a small group who has 12 regular people would be able to get a lot done, but we do," said Cynthia Marta, a graduate student from Rantoul.
After being involved in a car accident and sustaining a brain injury, Amanda Thompson, a junior from Lincoln, said finding the group has impacted her life by providing a community of friends.
"AbleHawks helped me find my voice, and I am so grateful for it," she said.
Transitioning from high school to college can be a difficult process, but the presence of a disability can make it slightly more challenging.
Mary Ann Rasnak, director of the Academic Achievement and
once in college.
"We have a process, but the student has to initiate that process," she said. "We make it as easy as we can, we have an online request form, we'll contact the faculty member, but nevertheless, the student has to become a good self-advocate to talk to faculty about what they need."
Access Center, said the services that students with disabilities receive in high school are often "prepackaged"; and the individual does not receive much say in setting up his or her accommodations.
Rasnak said that students must learn to be vocal about their needs
"AbleHawks helped me find my voice, and I am so grateful for it."
AMANDA THOMPSON
Lincoln junior
The AAAC provides services and accommodations in classrooms, housing and transportation. These include alternative rooms and extended
time for testing, alternative texts, such as Braille and sign language interpretation.
Students who identify and provide documentation of a disability can confidentially disclose their information with the AAAC, which acts as a liaison between
the student and faculty to provide appropriate accommodations.
ADAPTING TO CAMPUS LIFE
Preston Brown, a junior from Wichita, is legally blind. He originally attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to study acting before transferring to the KU School of Business. With the help of a cane and seeing-eye dog, Brown said he gets around campus and the community easily.
"I lived in New York City for six months out of high school by myself, so I really don't understand the concept of a challenge," he said. "Nothing really holds me back."
Although some students are confident in their coping strategies coming into college and don't feel a need to identify themselves with the office, Rasnak said those who do choose to seek accommodations have an opportunity to make a difference.
"Their presence in a classroom really exposes everyone in the classroom to the ability part of that equation," she said. "It helps
everyone focus on the ability of that person to participate, to be an active participant, to serve in a leadership role."
Brown said he considers himself a "trailblazer" at the University.
"When I went to New York City, I was the first legally blind student in the conservatory. Going through the business school, I've definitely been some of my professor's first legally blind student," he said. "Hopefully I provide an enjoyable learning opportunity."
However, Brown said it's helpful to be aware of possible accommodations coming into college. Having been part of an Individualized Educational Plan throughout school, Brown knew he needed a reduced distraction room and scribe to read exams aloud. He takes notes and downloads textbooks on a Victor Reader Stream device
"If you know what you need, KU has great resources to get you what
SEE ABLEHAWKS PAGE 3
CAMPUS
'Hawks for Boston' raises funds to aid Red Cross relief efforts
EMILY DONOVAN
edonovan@kansan.com
"What really touched me was seeing the civilians helping each other," Perry, who is from Auburn, said. "Just seeing the good in people come out to help their peers was really moving for me. My reaction at first was shock but I tried to focus on the positive and look at what was getting done to make the situation better."
Senior Kait Perry considers herself a cynical person. But, seeing the aid given at the Boston Marathon Monday, she was reminded that people are good at the core.
Knowing that she wouldn't be alone in her desire to make the situation better, Perry found what she and fellow Jayhawks could do to reach out to the Boston community in the wake of the explosions that killed three people and injured dozens more. Sitting in a coffee shop Monday night, unable to concentrate on writing a paper, she rallied support and mobilized. Within 24 hours, Hawks for Boston has raised more than $1,300 to benefit the American Red Cross.
To get permission to table on campus, Hawks for Boston needed a student organization to sponsor. As Perry has been a student senator
for two years, she reached out to Student Senate, which offered the manpower and Twitter followers to get the public involved and aware of the cause.
In the first two hours of the fundraising website going live, donations had already surpassed Perry's initial goal of $500.
"The American Red Cross works closely with the United States government to be the first responders
"it's cool to see an organization that I've worked with back up one of my ideas," Perry said.
LAWRENCE
Local runners honor Boston victims
SEE AID PAGE 3
JOANNA HLAVACEK
jhlavacek@kansan.com
A large, diverse assemblage of people stretched in unison around the South Park gazebo as the sun disappeared behind an overcast sky around 6:30 yesterday evening. Members of the crowd, some with dogs and stroller-housed toddlers in tow, reached down to touch their toes, waved arms from side to side and performed jumping jacks to prepare themselves for the three-mile Run for Boston through downtown Lawrence.
"This is a way to show support for other runners, especially those who have lost the opportunity to run after the events in
Boston," said Libby McCollom, a sophomore from Fort Collins, Colo., before taking off down Massachusetts Street along with approximately 200 fellow runners.
Local attorney Jon King organized the run after hearing of the bombings at Monday's Boston Marathon that left three people dead and more than 100 injured.
King's friend John Frydman, a fellow lawyer and Lawrence resident, competed in the Boston Marathon, finishing the race two minutes before the first bomb exploded. Frydman and his wife returned home safe to Lawrence on Monday night.
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"I'm running for my friend Megan, who ran at the Boston Marathon yesterday and missed the explosions by nine minutes," the sophomore from Leon said. "She's safe now, north of Boston."
Before the start of the run, a bag was passed through the crowd to collect donations for the Lawrence Police Foundation. The event proceeds totaled $785.
Harlee Schiermeister, a participant in last night's event, shared a similar story.
King said the decision to donate the event's proceeds to a local charity came from seeing news coverage of the Boston bombings, where workers such as police offi-
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All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
SEE RUN PAGE 3
Today's Weather
Barack Obama is NOT coming to campus. You will have class on Friday.
T-storms. 80 percent chance of rain. Wind southeast at 12 mph.
1.
April showers.