2008 Woodie Awards
Students attend disabilities conference
By Mae Kerr
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: News
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Seven students were selected to represent Slippery Rock at the conference, in addition to meeting with state representatives.
Alicia Dixon, Leah Schmitt, Calista Shoaff, Steve Midlik, Aaron Smith, Ashley Jordan and Diana Helt were among the students who attended the conference from SRU.
Temple University, Penn State University, West Chester University, and IUP were among the schools that joined SRU at the two day event.
"The conference was an opportunity for the students to meet new people and discuss the value of providing physical activity opportunities to those with disabilities," said Robert Arnhold, professor of exercise and rehabilitative sciences.
The advocacy conference was held at the Dixon University Center of Higher Education. The agenda included discussions on the significance of physical activity involvement for people with disabilities and health benefits that can be gained from participating in regular physical activity. The need for university and community programs that support these requirements was also a topic of concern.
Students spent a majority of their time learning different useful skills on how to raise these issues before legislators. The conference allowed students to prepare prior to meeting with state representatives.
The meetings took place at Capitol Hill, where students visited the offices of their home districts.
Robert Arnold obtained a grant through the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities (PADDC) council to support the trip. Arnhold said he applied for the funding last year and received a grant worth $8,337 through the council.
It covered all of the students' expenses, including those of the four other universities that participated. A total of 30 people, including faculty and students, attended the conference on the grant.
The PADDC supports projects that are aimed at improving social conditions for people with disabilities. There is up to $10,000 in funding available for applicants under the council's Collective Advocacy initiative.
"I believe the conference was very successful," Arnhold said. "The students learned a great deal about the legislative process and the importance of getting issues recognized."
Approximately 1 in 5 Americans has some form of disability, and 1 in 10 has a severe disability.
