Technically Speaking article #1

This is the first article for the campus newspaper of Forsyth Tech, Technically speaking.


Just Like You and Me
Students with disabilities are just like you and me. They may look different, but they’re really not.

Diversity is an issue that catches many people’s attention. The sad thing is, diversity is often stopped at skin tones. In today’s world, students with disabilities are often discriminated against or ignored because they’re different and people are confused about their disabilities. But really, students with disabilities are just like you and me.

“They might look different or walk different or talk different, but they’re people just like everybody else,” said Gail Freeman, head of the Students with Disabilities department.

Out of the 9,616 students enrolled at Forsyth Tech (as of Fall 2006 – Summer 2007), 300 are students with disabilities. There is a support group for the students, Students Understanding Disabilities (SUD) club. It meets the first Tuesday of every month in Gail Freeman’s office. The meetings are casual, and the students meet to discuss issues they are experiencing in class and anything else the students find interesting.

Only about a dozen of the three hundred students attend these meetings, however. Gail Freeman says that this is a good sign. It means that Forsyth Tech is doing its job and providing plenty of support elsewhere. The low attendance is partly due to the amazing technology available to assist students with disabilities, she says.

Sitting in her office surrounded by Christmas cards, flowers, and pictures of her three beautiful children, Freeman explained that her position at ForsythTech is her dream job. She’s always wanted to help people.

“It inspires me,” she says. “Often students with disabilities have had to overcome challenges and obstacles that most people never imagine.”

“Life is a struggle no matter who you are,” said Price Watts, a facilitator in the ITV computer room, “The struggle just differs for every person.” Watts finished his degree at Forsyth Tech in 2001 and is a long time employee of Forsyth Tech. He says the school has taken great strides in becoming more accessible to students with disabilities. He helped bring about many of the changes that made ForsythTech friendly to students with handicaps.

These students are just like you and me. They are people, not to be defined by their disabilities any more than someone should be defined by what blood type he or she has or what kind of toothbrush he or she uses. Disabilities are a part of who they are, but first they’re people. Try to make an effort to get to know everyone in your class, regardless of what you see on the outside. Who knows? You could be sitting next to your next best friend.