English junior Tania Martinez pets Jasper, a cocker spaniel that serves as a therapy dog, during last Wednesday’s Accessibility Information Fair on the Edinburg campus. Looking on are English senior Sarai Zamorano (left) and kinesiology graduate student Summer De Luna, of the Animal Therapy Club. Andrea Torres/The Rider
Lectures, exhibits and workshops focusing on accessibility continue through the end of the month on both UTRGV campuses.
“A good reason to think about Accessibility Awareness Month is that two out of seven families have someone with a disability in the family,” said Steve Wilder, assistant director of Disability Services. “So, this is not a small matter which is just limited to a handful of people in the population.”
This week, dogs used in therapy will visit the Brownsville campus from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Main Building’s courtyard. Inclusive Recreation will follow from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex on the Edinburg campus.
“There are a lot of people with disabilities and even if the students themselves don’t have a disability they probably know somebody who does,” Wilder said. “[Students should] be aware of the services that are available.” Sandra Rubio, a counseling specialist at Student Health Services, will lecture on “Coping and Resilience” from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Thursday in Cortez Hall 118 on the Brownsville campus.
Rubio wants students to realize “that there is hope in spite of trauma that happens in our life, or stressors in our life.”
“There’s techniques that we can learn to make sure that we can bounce back from whatever happened,” she said.
A Student Veteran Claims workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 in Salón Cassia in Brownsville and from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bronc room in Edinburg.
Maria Alejandra Mazariegos will present a lecture titled “How to Promote a Healthy Sexual Response Cycle” from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 28 in Salón Cassia.
There will also be a Student Veteran Panel from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bronc room. Accessibility Awareness Month events are sponsored by Student Accessibility Services, the Dean of Students, Student Involvement and the Student Government Association.
For more information, call Student Accessibility Services in Edinburg at 665-7005 and in Brownsville at 882-7372.
