April 13-19 is Disability Awareness Week

Disability Week posterIt is easy to forget that health care and disability are two closely related topics, and it is one that many do not consider when defining “diversity,” according to Mel Freitag, Ph.D., Director of Diversity Initiatives Assistant Clinical Professor University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing.  You are likely to come across numerous patients or colleagues who have one or more disabilities (seen or unseen) and it is essential that you are prepared to understand how their experiences may impact their care.

Best Buddies UW-Madison Chapter and McBurney Disability Center have put together a week-long series of events to raise awareness and educate students about people with disabilities.  One of these events is a Q&A panel hosted by the School of Nursing, where you can attend and learn about various perspectives on how disability is perceived and experienced in the healthcare. Other events during the week are listed in the attached poster.

The disability awareness panel will be on Wednesday, April 15th at 4 p.m. in the Cooper Hall Auditorium. For more information about this event, or others during Disability Awareness Week, check out the Facebook link here: https://www.facebook.com/events/690874894378917/

We hope to see you all there – this event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring a friend!