I am who I am: A Promising Practice in Disability Awareness and Community Building

Access For All (AFA) is a student organization at the University of Minnesota-Duluth made up of individuals interested in disability rights and issues. AFA hosts a series called "I am who I am" which features an individual from the community who has a disability speaking at a campus forum each month. The speakers share information about their disabilities, employment issues, accommodations, challenges, and successes.

The speaker series serves to

• create greater awareness of disability issues in the campus community,
• forge connections between the campus and local community groups and businesses,
• promote awareness of community diversity,
• and provide positive role models for students with disabilities.

The AFA speaker series is a promising practice in providing positive role models and promoting disability awareness and community building on a postsecondary campus.