Experience life with disabilities as BC celebrates Disability History Month

Published 9:16 am Wednesday, October 14, 2009

What is it like to lose your hearing, or your sight, or to return from war with a disability?

Experience life in new ways this October as Bellevue College celebrates national Disability History Month with three free, public events. All events will be held on BC’s main campus (3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, at the intersection of S.E. 28th St. and 148th Ave. S.E.).

Thursday, Oct. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Journey to Nepal and Back.” Carlson Theatre.

It’s Disability PRIDE Day at BC, and the campus will celebrate with gospel music by Chris Jones, an accomplished singer and keyboardist who is blind, and a discussion of the video, “Journey to Nepal and Back.” The video follows six BC students on a mission to find out what it’s like to live with a disability in a third world country. After the video, the students will describe what they learned and how it has changed their lives. A reception follows in the theatre lobby.

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m. – noon. “Into the Fire.” Carlson Theatre.

Anthony Curry and Carrie Bigson from It Had to Be Productions perform their newest drama, “Into the Fire,” which tells of the challenges facing Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans returning home with new disabilities.

Friday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. The Ability Experience. BC Gymnasium.

Find out what it’s like to lose your hearing, or your sight. See how long it takes to maneuver a wheelchair through tight turns and narrow spaces, and test your skill at free-throw shooting from a wheelchair. Learn what daily life is like for people with disabilities.

Disability History Month events at BC are presented by the college’s Disability Resource Center, which provides accommodation services and other assistance for BC students with disabilities

For more information on these events, call the BC Disability Resource Center at 425-564-2498.

Visit the Disability Resource Center for more information.