Disability Awareness Month
Events
Monday, March 4, 2025 - Neurodiverse Game Night
Friday, March 7, 2025 - Chapel Talk
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - Self-Advocacy in Medicine Panel
Saturday, March 22, 2025 - Wheelchair Exhibition Race
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - ADA Coordinator Meet & Greet
Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Texas Parasports Lunch & Learn
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What Do You Hope/Believe Disability Awareness Movements Can Accomplish?
"Assist students and leaders to realize the opportunities available to individuals dealing with disabilities. Show them what the power of sport can accomplish for all abilities. Hope that they go into their careers/life looking for ways to make their world more inclusive."
Wendy Gumbert, Class of 1989
"I hope that by sharing stories of people with disabilities, the TLU community can appreciate unbounded human potential. Getting to know Paralympic medalists and world record holders, TLU students can appreciate that people with disabilities accomplish outstanding feats of athleticism and advocacy, in addition to so much more! I hope that awareness movements spread the fact that we are all complicated, incredible people with our own strengths and challenges, regardless of if we happen to have a disability. Beyond awareness, let’s celebrate our pride, both as allies and as people with disabilities."
Linden Williamson, Class of 2024
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What Has Your Involvement in Para Sports Taught You?
"It has shown me that sport is the most powerful rehabilitation tool. Individuals who find sport also find independence, friends, accomplishment, confidence and a sense of belonging."
Wendy Gumbert, Class of 1989
"Competing in adaptive sports has revealed my inner resolve. Using sports as an outlet to challenge myself not only physically but mentally has strengthened my resilience and emboldened me to confidently try new things."
Linden Williamson, Class of 2024
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How Did Your Time and Education at TLU Shape or Influence Your Passion for Para Sports and/or Disability Advocacy?
"Dr. Yandell was instrumental in creating a degree plan for me in adapted physical education as a freshman. She encouraged me to explore all disabilities, helping me to find my real passion in sport for athletes with physical disabilities. Once I learned about Recreation Therapy, she helped guide me to take all the right classes to have only 1 more year of school at Southwest Texas State University to get my Recreation Therapy Certification. This opened the door to my first job at Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital as the Wheelchair Sport coordinator. Thank you to Dr. Kathy Yandell and Coach Urbanek for believing in me."
Wendy Gumbert, Class of 1989
"I was a TLU student when I first began learning how to wheelchair race. The overwhelming encouragement I received from TLU faculty and staff pushed me to commit myself to the sport because I knew that TLU would be a supportive environment. Beyond the encouragement from TLU community members, adaptive sport helped me build the confidence to speak out about inaccessibility at TLU, and to work alongside the university to help make the campus inclusive to all. My passion for advocacy was born as I witnessed the determination of TLU faculty to make the world a better place, from Dr. Kaminski in theology to Dr. Bailey in psychology to Dr. Sauncy in physics."
Linden Williamson, Class of 2024