A group of high school students spent time on campus this week learning about the many opportunities available at Brock for those experiencing disability.<\/p>\n
About 20 upper-level high school students from W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Brantford participated in Brock\u2019s Ability Empowerment Day (AED) on Tuesday, May 14. Hosted by the University\u2019s Office of Human Rights and Equity, the event included a series of workshops and activities meant to introduce students to various aspects of post-secondary life.<\/p>\n
Educational Co-ordinator Marisa Parker was among the teachers and support staff who brought the group of students to campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important for our students to be in the University\u2019s buildings to get a feel for their size and learn about some of the expectations that might be different from their current secondary environment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Having both knowledge and the ability to connect with people can be helpful as students explore different options for the future, Parker said.<\/p>\n
AED brought together eight Brock departments and services to talk about life on campus and saw students take part in a facilitated discussion about how the University can best support their success.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-five per cent of the population identifies with a disability community,\u201d said Kinesiology Professor Maureen Connolly, a member of the Ability Empowerment Committee. \u201cTherefore, we should assume that 25 per cent of the students we welcome to campus comprise a similar demographic.\u201d<\/p>\n