UWG to host the Fifth Annual Disabilities Awareness Day

The University of West Georgia hosts its Fifth Annual Disabilities Awareness Day on Tuesday, Oct. 18. D-Day is an all-day event at UWG to celebrate National Disability Awareness Month, raise awareness and have fun while appreciating the diversity brought to our campus by students who have various disabilities.

Activities begin at 9 a.m. between the Technology-enhanced Learning Center (TLC) and the Campus Center.

All activities and events are free and open to the public.

This year the Achievers, a student organization that promotes awareness and advocacy for students with mobility issues, is especially excited to welcome back Scott Rigsby, an Ironman Triathlete and double-amputee. Rigsby will speak at 10:30 a.m. in the Campus Center (108.2.) Also coming for D-Day is UWG alum Rob Langston, who will speak at 4 p.m. Langston’s presentation will be especially informative for those who want to know more about learning disabilities and being a college student.

This year’s celebration includes the second annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 22. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. and continues throughout the day in the Campus Center. On the court will be teams from the University of Alabama, Auburn University and the Shepherd Center. Also taking the court will be the Augusta Bulldogs, Music City Thunder and the Tampa Bay Strong Dogs.

Also returning this year is the popular wheelchair rally. Participants will tour the beautiful UWG campus on wheelchairs to experience life from a different perspective. In other popular D-Day activities, participants will make PB&J sandwiches while blindfolded. They will also do other daily tasks -- tying shoes, tossing beanbags and stacking cups -- while experiencing various physical limitations.

The “Hearing Experience” will give participants a chance to know what it’s like to be hearing impaired.

D-Day was started to give UWG students and the local community a chance gain a greater understanding for those who live life with physical, emotional or learning disabilities.

As part of the annual celebration at UWG, Blaze Sports America invites everyone to experience adaptive games and other sports related-activities. In addition, vendors who provide a wide array of products and services for people with disabilities will be on hand to demonstrate adaptive technologies and provide information.

All of the people involved with D-day 2011 hope you will join us for these events.

For more information contact: Disability Services in the Student Development Center 678-839-6428.