Miami University’s Disability Cultural Center, one of only 10 at a U.S. institution, helps students with disabilities build identity and a sense of belonging
Stephanie Dawson, director of the Miller Center for Student Disability Services, said a key to the center’s success is the support of other diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders on campus. Read the recent story in Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Miami University’s Disability Cultural Center, one of only 10 at a U.S. institution, helps students with disabilities build identity and a sense of belonging
Disability Cultural Centers (DCCs) are physical places (many virtual, during the pandemic) for college students to connect with other students, faculty, and staff with disabilities and share their experiences, helping to build identity and a sense of belonging at their institution.
According to a recent report by Diverse Issues in Higher Education, only 10 DCCs exist at U.S. Institutions.
Stephanie Dawson, the director of the Miller Center for Student Disability Services — the DCC at Miami University— said, “We really embrace the social model and cultural lens, the idea that disability should be celebrated and is a part of human diversity.”
Dawson said a key to their cultural center’s success is the support of other diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders on campus. The cultural centers on campus work together to build programming, collaborating to be fully inclusive.
The Miller Center’s cultural events are guided by their Students with Disabilities Advisory Council.
Read the full story in Diverse Issues in Higher Education: Only 10 Disability Cultural Centers Exist at U.S. Institutions
