Happy Disability Pride Month and the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!
Happy Disability Pride Month from the Accessibility Advisory Committee! July 26, 2024 marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), also known as National Disability Independence Day. The disability community celebrates the ADA with great pride as this is an historic piece of legislation, throughout the month of July.
About the Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA was signed on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, and was broadened by the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), signed by President George W. Bush 18 years later and went into effect on January 1, 2009. The ADA has five titles to provide protections for individuals with disabilities. These titles cover the workplace, state and local government entities (such as Shoreline Community College), places of public accommodation, telecommunications, and some miscellaneous circumstances such as protecting people from discrimination if they file a disability-related complaint. Want to learn more? Watch our “What is the ADA?” video on YouTube!
How did the ADAAA Help People with Disabilities?
The ADA Amendments Act was pivotal in that it adjusted and clarified the definition of the word “disability.” Imagine an hourglass: The original ADA significantly helped people with disabilities, but as time went on, lawsuits occurred, and discrimination continued, that definition narrowed severely. The country recognized this and broadened that definition again, more explicitly including individuals with episodic disabilities, such as epilepsy, those with reproductive barriers, and more. The ADAAA is clear that they have a non-exhaustive list of disabilities. Under the ADA, an individual is considered to have a “disability” if that individual either (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of that person’s major life activities, (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded by the covered entity as having such an impairment. The determination of whether any particular condition is considered a disability is made on a case by case basis.
The Disability Pride Flag
Did you know that there is a Disability Pride Flag? Check out the image attached to this newsletter! The Disability Pride flag was originally designed by artist Ann Magill, a disabled woman, utilizing feedback from the disabled community. The flag features a black background with five lines (colored blue, yellow, white, red, and green) slashing across diagonally in a lightning bolt shape. This shape was found to activate some people’s symptoms and it was not friendly to some who had color blindness, so the artist refined the flag’s design. Now, the disability pride flag has muted tones, the colors are in a different order, and the zig zag pattern is no longer used.
Each color on the disability flag has a particular meeting in this movement. Red on the flag represents physical disabilities; the gold represents intellectual disabilities and neurodivergence; blue represents mental illness; green represents sensory disabilities; and white represents non-apparent disabilities. The black field on the disability pride flag represents mourning for all of those disabled members of our community who have been lost due to ableist violence, eugenics, and suicide.
Ways to Celebrate
Disability Pride Month and the ADA Anniversary will be celebrated at a variety of events throughout the region, nation, and virtually. Many in the disability community take to social media in July by adding hashtags such as #ADA32 and #ThanksToTheADA to their postings. Join the virtual celebration by adding these hashtags to your own social media posts! Drop by the Student Accessibility Services office in Room 5226, Mondays-Wednesdays, to pick up some disability-themed stickers for your windows, laptops, or water bottles. We want to hear from you, too! How has the ADA impacted your life or that of someone you care about?
Resources
Accessibility Advisory Committee YouTube Playlist – The AAC YouTube playlist has a variety of videos, with PowerPoints, presentations performed by members, and recordings of past workshops at Shoreline. Let us know about specific topics that you think would be interesting for us to develop into videos!
Please submit feedback about the information that the Accessibility Advisory Committee shares to Miranda Levy via email at mlevy@shoreline.edu so that the committee can review together and serve the campus community better.
Get ready to celebrate diversity and inclusion at our campus! join us for exiting activities, inspiring performers, and free food all to showcase our support for the LGBTQ+ community.
WAVES is sponsoring a FREE Student Leadership Workshop on Friday, May 24th from 9am -4pm at the Weyerhauser Aquatic Center.
Date: Friday 5/24/24
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center
The purpose of the student leadership conference is to support youth and young professionals between 18 – 25 years of age. The conference will focus on the following topic areas: 1) Professional development and capacity building 2) Community building in public health & community health 3) Celebration of young leaders for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (students do not need to be of AAPI heritage to participate). Participants will engage in various interactive workshops and have the opportunity to network with other young professionals and students across King and Pierce County boarders.
WAVES will be providing transportation and snacks on the bus ride. Conference sponsors will be providing lunch and refreshments during the conference.
Join us in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Wednesday, May 22, from 5 PM to 8 PM at our Shoreline CC Theatre!
Enjoy cultural performances by the Tibetan Association of Washington, Seattle Kokon Taiko, and more! Explore resource information from various vendors and savor delicious offerings from food trucks like Seattle Poi Company, Taste of Samoa, Momocha, and others.
The Filipino-American Students & Allies (FASA) student club invites all Shoreline CC faculty and staff to join in the fun and festivities as we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month with our students.
Come sing your heart out and dance the afternoon away! Karaoke will be set up in the Asian & Pacific Islander Student Center (APISC), Room 1305, on May 22, from 2 PM to 4 PM. Don’t miss out on the excitement!
Date: Wednesday 5/22/24
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Location: Asian & Pacific Islander Student Center, Room 1305
Shoreline Community College is pleased to announce Brian Crisanto Ramos as the new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. When asked about his new role, Brian said, “I am so thrilled and humbled to be joining the Shoreline community this summer! We have some exciting and challenging work ahead of us, but I truly couldn’t be more honored to be in community with each of you. As a graduate from our local community college system, I know firsthand the passion we bring and the impact we are going to make as we co-create a more equitable and inclusive campus for all staff, faculty, and students.” He will begin his new role on July 1, 2024.
Brian is a proud member of the Pipil, Lenca, and Mayan Nations of Manawara, often referred to as El Salvador and Costa Rica. As a son to Salvadoran refugees and a first-generation TRIO student, he is the byproduct of a resilient community dedicated to the uplifting of all people.
Ramos holds a master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington, and also received a bachelor’s in political science from Seattle University, and an associate’s degree in political science from Edmonds College. For over ten years, Brian has served within the WA State Community College system. He began his career within student services at Everett Community College, working hands-on with students in Financial Aid and Workforce Funding. During this time, he worked to co-create and implement a new framework of equity, and thus transitioned to the Associate Director of Retention. Brian brought together various Tribal Nations and the campus community to create a space for Indigenous Students called huyadadaličəɬ, “The Place of Our Way,” where Native students were directly supported in an effort to increase Native student retention.
Most recently, he has served within the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. In this role, he focused his work on reviewing and redesigning institutional systems through an equity lens, creating avenues to learn and grow as a campus community, providing guidance to departments, staff, and faculty on co-creating equitable changes. Brian brings a passion for relationship building and has created and fostered relationships at both Everett Community College & Lake Washington Tech with Tribal Nations, bringing Land Acknowledgements to life through accountability & actions.
Through his Indigenous roots, Brian has learned to challenge systems designed by, and for the dominant culture while maintaining himself rooted in the voices of his ever-resilient communities. Along with this, Brian is supported by an amazing fluffy white Dog named Appa, his service dog & best friend! Every week he recharges by playing board games, Magic the Gathering, and exploring new places while playing Pokémon GO.
Join us May 26th at 4 PM at Shoreline Community College Theatre for SEATTLE BLACK PANTHERS FIGHT FOR JUSTICE & FREEDOM takes a deep dive into the untold stories and remarkable achievements of the Black Panther Party’s Seattle chapter, shedding light on their tireless struggle against oppression and their unwavering commitment to community empowerment. Unveiling the truth behind the myth of the Black Panthers, offering a nuanced portrayal of their revolutionary efforts. At its core, the documentary captures the essence of the Black Panther Party’s mission: to empower marginalized communities and give voice to those who have long been silenced.
This event offers a unique opportunity to witness the resilience and determination of the Seattle Black Panthers on the big screen. It’s an evening of enlightenment, inspiration, and meaningful dialogue as we honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for justice and freedom. Director, Rick DuPree, will be in attendance along with one of the founding members of the Seattle Black Panther, Elmer Dixon.
This isn’t just a film screening but a community gathering with food trucks, spoken word, a meet and greet with the director, photo opportunities and much more.
Artist, educator, and global agitator Anida Yoeu Ali will present a hybrid performance/talk and visual experience on themes of transnationalism, otherness, and belonging. The presentation will also include poetry, videos, and images from her current exhibition. Specifically, her work offers an opportunity to create from a place of joy and resilience without the need to mine from her own family trauma and painful histories. Coming off the energy and astounding public and press reception of her history-making solo exhibition Hybrid Skin, Mythical Presence at Seattle Asian Art Museum (on view until July 7, 2024).
How can the body be presented as both content and context? Performance both conveys and constructs identity and culture. Human beings are continuously performing complex intersections of multiple identities, often shifting between dimensions of various identities and cultural influences. This workshop is intended to stimulate dialogue on transnationalism and creativity through the medium of performance. Without requiring much in material needs, performance art is one of the most accessible means for contemporary artists to create unique works. Participants will develop performances unique to their body, stories, experiences and various spaces they inhabit.
