October 2022: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 2022
Global Campus Diversity Equity & Inclusion Newsletter
This newsletter is intended to connect you with events, activities, and thoughts that help cultivate an inclusive environment where diversity can thrive.
In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the contributions of people with disabilities to our nation’s workplace and economy. The annual event draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed and eliminated.
In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, this year’s theme will be “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.” For ways you can get involved, visit the Office of Disability’s Employment Policy website for 31 Days of NDEAM.
Throughout the month, the U of A Office of Accommodation and Accessibility Services within the department of Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Title IX will host a movie viewing, an awards ceremony, and offer a series of informative webinars on topics related to Disability Awareness.
- October 3 – Neurodiversity in the Workplace – webinar via Zoom, 2-3 p.m., free but registration required
- October 11 – Crip Camp Movie Viewing & Panel Discussion – Arkansas Union 423 Theatre, 6–8 p.m., free
- October 18 – PDF and Advertising Accessibility – webinar via Zoom, 1–2:30 p.m., free but registration required
- October 20 – Disability Etiquette – webinar via Zoom, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., free but registration required
- October 24 – Accessible Attitudes – webinar via Zoom, 10–11:30 a.m., free but registration required
- October 27 – Disability Awareness Recognition Event – Arkansas Union Room 512-514, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Notable Disability Advocates
Alice Wong
Alice Wong is a disability rights advocate who founded the Disability Visibility Project, which collects oral histories of people with disabilities. In 2015, Wong, who has a neuromuscular disorder, became the first person to visit the White House via telepresence robot.
Ed Roberts, JR.
Disability rights activist Ed Roberts, known as the founder of the #IndependentLiving movement, was the first wheelchair user to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and later served as director of the California Department of Rehabilitation and co-founded the World Institute on Disability.
Haben Girma
Haben Girma, the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, is a human rights lawyer who advocates for disability justice and inclusion.
Lois Curtis
Lois Curtis’ lawsuit against the state of Georgia resulted in the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead decision, providing a legal basis for independent living and community integration, including through employment, for Americans with disabilities.
Lydia X.Z. Brown
Lydia X. Z. Brown is an attorney, author and educator whose work focuses on intersectionality and disability justice. Among their many other achievements, they were the lead editor of All the Weight of Our Dreams, an anthology of works by autistic people of color.
LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates the history and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It also honors the history of the gay-rights movement. In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the U.S. designated October as LGBT History Month, spearheaded by Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher in Missouri. This celebratory month was originally known as Lesbian and Gay History Month. Additional identity acronyms were added over time to increase inclusivity of LGBTQ+ communities. October was selected because it coincides with National Coming Out Day, and because it is the month of the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979.
- October 11 – National Coming Out Day – celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality.
- October 19 – National LGBT Center Awareness Day – a day that celebrates the services provided by centers across the nation.
- October 19– International Pronouns Day – seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating people about personal pronouns commonplace.
- October 21 –Spirit Day– established in response to a string of teen suicides, this day encourages everyone to “go purple” in support of LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying.
October is Global Diversity Awareness Month and an opportunity to celebrate and increase awareness about diversity, and the positive impact it has in the workplace and wider society. It is a time to connect with others, to learn about their cultures and to stay informed regarding events in your own neighborhood, state, nation and world. It is a time to explore different ways of doing things, whether it be cooking, dancing, art, music, or language — the options are as varied as the people we meet.
Upcoming Events
Stay up-to-date on all events pertaining to Belonging at the University of Arkansas from their calendar of events.
Trainings
Stay up-to-date on all trainings pertaining to Belonging at the University of Arkansas.
Resources
This newsletter is intended to align with the University of Arkansas campus initiative: Belonging. Messages are intended to nurture a positive working environment at the Global Campus, where all individuals can feel welcome and valued.
“Belonging is defined by each of us and connects us all as Razorbacks. … Belonging is a feeling we all desire and long for, regardless of life experiences. We all want to find a connection with others in our community. Some of the key components to belonging are: mutuality, open-mindedness, willingness to change, shared purpose, acceptance, acknowledging differences, authenticity, honest curiosity, respect, safety, self-reflection, trust, and mattering.”
~ the University of Arkansas’ “Our Belonging Framework”
This newsletter also supports the Global Campus core values of Excellence, People, Innovation, Empowerment, and Access and Reach.
All employees are welcome to provide feedback and suggestions for this newsletter to gccomm@uark.edu or ksmurphy@uark.edu.
Be Involved
Get Involved with GC DEI! Would you like to join the Global Campus DEI committee?
Please seek approval from your supervisor, and then contact Kay Murphy at ksmurphy@uark.edu.
GC DEI BOOK CLUB
Book Access: The Global Campus is building a GC DEI Lending Library. Global Campus leadership has provided funding for these books. The Fayetteville Public Library is also a resource for DEI materials. Editions of previously discussed books are available upon request.
Call for Ideas: Send us your recommendations for the next book club reading selection. Email Kay Murphy at ksmurphy@uark.edu.
Contribute to the Newsletter
Send events, information, and suggestions for the NOVEMBER GC DEI newsletter to any of the committee members.
Events & Things To Do
DEI Events
- October 6 – The U.S. and the Holocaust, screening and panel discussion, 6–7:30 p.m., Fayetteville Public Library, free
- October 11 – Critical Conversations: Preparing Young Americans for Citizenship with the Clinton Presidential Center, via Zoom, 6–7 p.m., free but registration required
- October 13 – How to Fight Racism, KUAF Presents The ‘R’ Word, discussion of the book with the author, Jemar Tisby, Fayetteville Public Library, 6–7:30 p.m., free
- October 20 – 45th Anniversary-Yo Credo Que Es Tiempo with Mariachi Aztlan, presenting the very best of Mexico’s music by “The Queen of Mariachi,” Aida Cuevas, Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $10 tickets
Community Events
- October 1-31 – Listening Forest, exhibition August 31–January 1, created by artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer uses light, sound, and projections to create an interactive walk through the woods, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, opens after sunset, tickets required for ages 7 and up
- October 1 – Razorback Football, home game versus Alabama
- October 1 – Art Walk, downtown Springdale, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., free
- October 1 – The Taming of the Shrew, Northwest Arkansas Audio Theater (NWAAT) presents radio theater as performed during the 1940’s, Fayetteville Public Library, 3-4 p.m., free
- October 5-8 – Bikes, Blues & BBQ
- October 6 – First Thursday, “Larger Than Life” theme, Fayetteville Square, 5:30-9 p.m., free
- October 7 – First Friday, “Oktoberfest” theme, Bentonville Square, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., free
- October 7-9 – Vintage Market Days of NW Arkansas Fall Event, Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (until 4 p.m. on Sunday), tickets required for ages 13 and up
- October 8 – Maker Faire NWA, from animators to cosplay creators, bike makers to scientists and hobbyist 3D printers, Maker Faire is where beginners and experts of all ages come together to show what’s being made in NWA, Fayetteville Public Library, all day, free
- October 8 – Razorback Football, away game at Mississippi State
- October 8 – Square 2 Square Bicycle Ride, Bentonville to Fayetteville via the Razorback Greenway
- October 8-31 – Ozarktober, 6th annual fall celebration in the Ozarks, Downtown Springdale, variety of free and for purchase events
- October 13-15 – Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Festival, Washington County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., free
- October 13-16 – War Eagle Fair, 11037 High Sky Inn Road in Hindsville, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (until 4 p.m. on Sunday), free
- October 14 – Fall Bonfire, Shiloh Square in Springdale, 6–9 p.m., free
- October 14-15 – Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Festival, NWA Convention Center in Springdale, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (until 8 p.m. on Saturday), free
- October 15 – Razorback Football, away game at BYU
- October 15 – Hero Half Marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 2k, Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville, entry fee required
- October 16 – An Afternoon with the Composer Giuseppe Verdi, whether you are a novice or an aficionado, this series will inspire your appreciation of opera and music in general, second in a series of three lecture recitals offers excerpts from his operas La Traviata and Rigoletto, as well as an interview with Verdi, Fayetteville Public Library, 2-3 p.m., free
- October 20-22 – Fayetteville Film Fest, passes and tickets for purchase
- October 27 – LIVE! at Turnbow, Turnbow Park in Springdale, 6:30-9 p.m., free
- October 29 – Razorback Football, away game at Auburn
- October 29 – Be(A)ware Allergy-Friendly Halloween Extravaganza, Fayetteville Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon, free
Days of Note
- October 2 – International Day of Non-Violence – a day for people to reject the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change and to campaign for social justice.
- October 5 – National Do Something Nice Day – a day to do something nice, from buying a cup of coffee for someone to giving a compliment to the tired clerk.
- October 10 – World Mental Health Day – a day meant to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide.
- October 11 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – alternative celebration to Columbus Day, giving recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization and to honor Native American people, their history and culture.
- October 13 – National Stop Bullying Day – a day to remind people to stand up against bullying. No child should be afraid to ride a bus or go to school because a classmate threatens them. Children who have been bullied should also feel they can report the incident without repercussions.
- October 15 – National Latino AIDS Awareness Day – a day that encourages prevention, testing and open dialogue concerning HIV and AIDS.
- October 15 – White Cane Safety Day – a day that celebrates the achievements of blind or visually impaired individuals.
- October 18-19 – Eid Milad un-Nabi – an Islamic holiday commemorating the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. During this celebration, homes and mosques are decorated, large parades take place, and those observing the holiday participate in charity events.
- October 23 – National Make a Difference Day – make a difference in someone’s life, big or small, in whatever way you can. The U of A Volunteer Action Center connects students with volunteering opportunities in Northwest Arkansas.
- October 31 – Halloween and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
BINGO GAMES 
You are welcome to download the Boss Day (October 16th) and Global Diversity Bingo cards.
The Belonging committee seeks your feedback and suggestions. Use the "Submit a Comment" form below or contact a committee member.
In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the contributions of people with disabilities to our nation’s workplace and economy. The annual event draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed and eliminated.
Peoples of Hispanic or Latinx origin are united by a collective pride in a heritage that spans hundreds of years. They celebrate their illustrious history during Hispanic Heritage month, observed September 15 through October 15. These dates coincide with the national independence days in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.
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