Students with disabilities relate their experiences in a documentaryStudents with disabilities relate their experiences in documentary

ANN ARBOR—A video documentary based on interviews of University of Michigan students with a variety of physical, mental and learning disabilities will be premiered on Wednesday (Sept. 27) in the Kuenzel Room at the Michigan Union. The program begins at 7 p.m.

[Central Campus map, Michigan Union lower left]

“And You Can Quote Me On That” features 15 current and former undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Literature, Science, and Arts, the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the Law School, the Medical School, the School of Public Health, the College of Engineering, the School of Education, and the School of Social Work. The students speak about their experiences at the U-M, ranging from the application process to classroom accommodations to the social environment. They also express their views on such topics as personal identity and whether they contribute to the University’s diversity.

“The students featured in this video express through vivid comment what it means to be a part of this community. Their viewpoints underscore the value of making institutions of higher education accessible to the full range of human talent,” said Earl Lewis, dean of the Rackham Graduate School.

“And You Can Quote Me On That” is the product of Dialogues on Diversity, a University-wide initiative sponsored by Rackham Graduate School. The idea for the video was introduced in early 1999 by Rachel Arfa, then a student leader majoring in American Culture. She challenged the initiative’s leadership to consider whether the disabled community was part of the diversity valued by the University.

With support from Lewis, Arfa and the staff of Dialogues on Diversity began soliciting the participation of any interested students with disabilities. The documentary was made after a series of group meetings and individual interviews that took place throughout the winter semester.

Following the screening there will be a question and answer session with many of the students featured in the documentary. A reception will follow.

The event is free and open to the public.For more information, call Pat McCune at (734) 647-2655 or by e-mail, phmccune@umich.edu.

Central Campus mapCollege of Literature, Science, and ArtsEarl LewisDialogues on Diversityphmccune@umich.eduNews and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan