Join the Futures Initiative on Wednesday, February 8 from 2-3pm for Accessibility, Mobility, and Design, a conversation about the meaning of mobility and the role of design as a process that can cultivate a culture of accessibility that goes beyond accommodations. Sara Hendren (Olin College of Engineering) and April Coughlin (SUNY, New Paltz) will discuss physical, structural, social, and attitudinal barriers within and outside of the classroom, that shape access to education for students with disabilities. The discussion will be moderated by Jessica Murray (Futures Initiative Fellow, GC Doctoral Student in Human Development). Space is limited, so please RSVP if you plan to join us.

Schedule of Events on February 8

• 2:00 EST: Panel Discussion, GC 9100 (Skylight Room). Join us at the Graduate Center or via livestream[cuny.us10.list-manage.com] for a discussion with panelists Sara Hendren and April Coughlin
• 3:00 EST: Reception and Twitter Chat, GC 9100 (Skylight Room). Continue the discussion over coffee and cookies, or join an online discussion on the topic using the hashtag #fight4edu. The Twitter discussion will be led by HASTAC Scholars.

How to Join Us

• To attend in person, RSVP now!
• Watch the live stream at bit.ly/fight4edu-live[cuny.us10.list-manage.com] (unedited footage will be available after the event for a limited time under “Recent Videos,” and we’ll post an edited captioned version on our website 1-2 weeks after the event)
• View live captions of the event here: streamtext.net/player?event=FI-CUNY[cuny.us10.list-manage2.com]
• Follow the hashtag #fight4edu[cuny.us10.list-manage1.com] and tweet your questions/comments
• During and after the event, add your questions and comments to this Google Doc.

The discussion will be co-sponsored by CUNY Disability Scholars, GC Digital Initiatives, and the Center for Humanities.

Please feel free to share this invitation with your network. More details are below and the RSVP page[cuny.us10.list-manage.com]. If you need any accommodations to be able to participate comfortably in this event, please contact us at futuresinitiative@gc.cuny.edu

Panelist Bios 

Sara Hendren is an artist, design researcher, and assistant professor at Olin College[cuny.us10.list-manage.com]. Her work engages adaptive and assistive technologies, prosthetics, inclusive design, accessible architecture, and related ideas. Her work has been exhibited in the US and abroad and is held in the permanent collection at MOMA (NYC), and her writing and design work have appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, FastCo Design, and on National Public Radio (US), among others. Work at various stages includes ramp design for wheelchair users and skateboarders; low-tech assistive devices; the long-running Accessible Icon Project, which she co-founded; and a book on the unexpected places where disability is at the heart of design, out from Riverhead/Penguin in 2018-2019. She lectures widely and formerly taught at the Rhode Island School of Design. She runs Olin’s Adaptation + Ability Group[cuny.us10.list-manage.com] and the Abler[cuny.us10.list-manage.com] website.

April Coughlin has been a “wheeler” since the age of 6. She is an accomplished teacher, disability rights activist and former competitive triathlete, competing in several races and marathons. She earned her doctorate in Special Education with a focus on Disability Studies at Syracuse University. She is a passionate advocate[cuny.us10.list-manage.com] for accessibility, particularly regarding physical environments. A champion of spatial access, April has a portfolio of considerations and suggestions to improve the usability of most physical locations. For years, April has also worked closely with individuals with spinal cord injuries to mentor them and ease them into their new reality. Likewise, she has worked with doctors and care providers to deliver sensitivity workshops and advice. April currently works as an Assistant Professor of Adolescent Special Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her research is focused on disability, access, and equality, and she is committed to increasing awareness and education about the need for physical access and inclusion for students with disabilities.