Weekly News Update From the National Center for College Students with Disabilities Last Week's Top News Stories about Disability and Higher Education September 17-23, 2023 *Welcome back! Here's our first issue for the 2023-2024 academic year!* * Yale is no longer requiring students with medical leaves to completely withdraw and reapply<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/health/yale-mental-health.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share> for admission, after a combination of a recent student suicide, student activism, and a legal settlement forced the change. * In her new memoir, actress Kerry Washington talks about having an eating disorder<https://etcanada.com/news/1023059/kerry-washington-opens-up-about-suicidal-thoughts-amid-eating-disorder-a-toxic-cycle-of-self-abuse/> during college. * Prospective college students want to stand out in their college admissions essays, but they shouldn't feel pushed to write about past traumas<https://www.teenvogue.com/story/college-essays-trauma-students?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tv&utm_mailing=TNV_Take_092323&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=62d194a36010b0ca4d03f543&cndid=70289449&hasha=2c847bfc20787460a7db69cb2860f55f&hashb=efaf98205061113c7ebe95837db066fcaa2aa8e5&hashc=b4d6e10b3b78c7eccd7d480eae40f8d2f2f188bf515af18ffbaa034740e24001&esrc=subscribe-page&utm_term=TNV_Take>, says an op-ed in Teen Vogue. * Students, faculty, and staff can all experience menopause<https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/09/12/lets-talk-about-higher-ed-and-menopause-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=22846bcdd7-WNU_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-22846bcdd7-225808461&mc_cid=22846bcdd7&mc_eid=d5645fe552>, but higher education is not always a supportive place to share experiences, deal with symptoms like anxiety and depression, or adjust thermostats to "turn down the goddamn heat." * A free "Certificate in Inclusive Excellence" at Augusta University<https://jagwire.augusta.edu/hold-augusta-university-introduces-game-changer-program-to-foster-inclusive-excellence/> will help faculty and staff learn more about inclusion; the certificate includes disability awareness and suicide prevention courses. * Two new centers in higher education are working on disability issues: * Northwestern University's Center for Racial and Disability Justice<https://www.law.northwestern.edu/research-faculty/racial-disability-justice/> promotes "justice for people of color, people with disabilities, and individuals at the intersection of race and disability." * The Center for Virtual Care Value and Equity<https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2023/09/university-center-telehealth-research> at the University of North Carolina will include research to improve equity in virtual mental health care for college students. * Learn about Usher Syndrome<https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/science/091623/shedding-light-on-usher-syndrome>, the leading cause of deaf-blindness, and two women who used accommodations during and after college. * As summers get longer and hotter, air conditioning in dorms is becoming a necessity<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/residential-life/2023/09/18/students-without-air-conditioning-sleep-basements-lounges?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5a94907fcb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5a94907fcb-198891893&mc_cid=5a94907fcb&mc_eid=a51c972f65> for people with and without disabilities and health conditions. * Binghamton College is setting up additional funding for services<https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/4505/binghamton-university-announces-new-investments-in-student-life> including mental health, disability services, adaptive technology, and transition, with the purpose of showing "disability awareness and action is a campus-wide effort and priority." * Deion Sanders' daughter Shelomi is using her Instagram account to post about having Type I diabetes<https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-thats-baby-deion-sanders-shares-heartwarming-response-daughter-shelomi-sanders-post-instagram> while attending and playing basketball at the University of Colorado. * A new Service Dog Club at the University of Tennessee<https://www.utdailybeacon.com/local-events/new-service-dog-club-at-ut-shares-goals-during-national-service-dog-month/article_82c5d964-596c-11ee-87a8-ef8589d23283.html> brings together students who use service animals on campus. Also of note: People who use American Sign Language can now access ASL services at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline<https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20230908/988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-adds-american-sign-language-services-deaf-hard-of-hearing-callers?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=adb4784f66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_08_02_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-adb4784f66-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D> by going to 988lifeline.org or calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) with a VideoPhone (VP). The NCCSD will soon be adding this to our list of crisis resources at https://nccsd.ici.umn.edu/crisis-resources. Click here to subscribe to NCCSD Weekly News Updates and other announcements<https://ahead-listserve.org/mailman/listinfo/dream>. If you have any difficulty accessing the News Updates, contact NCCSD@ahead.org<mailto:NCCSD@ahead.org>. The NCCSD does not endorse any opinions in these news articles, nor does it guarantee accessibility of external sites. The NCCSD is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration, which collaborates with the Association on Higher Education And Disability and other partners to increase the success of current and future college students with disabilities.