Weekly News Update From the National Center for College Students with Disabilities Last Week's Top News Stories about Disability and Higher Education May 7-13, 2023 * Students with intellectual disabilities will be able to participate in NCAA<https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/bethel-university-helps-pave-way-for-students-intellectual-disabilities-to-participate-in-ncaa-sports/> Division III sports without special waivers, thanks to Dylan Delaske at Bethel University. * Maryland established a state Access to Mental Health Advisory Committee<https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0573?ys=2023RS> for higher education. * Hartwick College is celebrating 25 years raising Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppies<https://news.yahoo.com/hartwick-college-celebrates-25-years-035900357.html>. * Caden Cox made history as the first person with Down syndrome to play in an NCAA game<https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/courts/2023/05/12/former-hocking-college-football-player-with-down-syndrome-sues-college/70211089007/>, but he filed a federal lawsuit against Hocking College, alleging disability discrimination, retaliation, and abuse while he played football there. * New research studies about college students and disability: * Can students learn ASL from holograms? <https://edscoop.com/gallaudet-university-holograms-asl/> Gallaudet University researchers are hoping the answer is "yes." Among other findings in the Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/academic-life/2023/05/11/students-and-academic-life-top-10-insights>, 67% of students with disabilities said they've been in classes where teaching style was a problem, and 55% of students with learning disabilities said they struggle with mental health. This article about instructional materials<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/academic-life/2023/05/10/diversifying-course-materials-how-guide> expands on the Student Voice findings. * Nearly one in five college students don't know if there are mental health resources available<https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230511005325/en/Majority-of-Students-Report-Problems-with-University-Mental-Health-Services-According-to-New-Qualtrics-Research-with-College-Pulse>, and for students who knew about the resources, 55% reported problems using them, according to new research from Qualtrics. * Students reported stress, mental health, cost, and inflation<https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/05/10/report-college-enrollment-barriers-higher-education> as key reasons why 41% of them have considered withdrawing from school. * The University of Iowa had one of the first LGBTQ student groups<https://littlevillagemag.com/hiv-aids-history-iowa-city-part-one/> in the country; a three-piece in-depth newspaper series explores the impact of AIDS on students and the broader community in Iowa City. * Louis Emond died last week<https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/louis-emond-obituary?id=51919492>. At Dean College, he set up one of the first programs in the US for students with learning disabilities at the college level, while also believing faculty and others on campus needed to improve access, as well. * High school students at Georgia Academy for the Blind are getting 3D yearbooks<https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mercer-engineering-students-create-3d-181101490.html>, courtesy of Mercer University engineering students. * For the real truths about sports, <https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-05-15/senior-smack-talkers-sports-pierce-college> join Pierce College's sports class for senior citizens ("The Senior Smack Talkers"), who have become friends able to talk about "controversial" topics like cancer and health. But in class, discussions can get pretty heated - "It's like herding cats," says their professor. * The student Disability Culture Committee at Queens College<https://www.theknightnews.com/2023/05/15/op-ed-reading-and-discussion-of-disability-visibility-event-review-shining-a-spotlight-on-students-with-disabilities-at-queens-college/> hosted a reading of essays from Disability Visibility by Alice Wong, sparking discussion about student experiences. * "The Body is a House of Familiar Rooms"<https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/09/living-with-chronic-illness-artist-partner/> is a film by Hunter College grad student Lauryn Welch, who wanted to use art to explore her chronic illness and her partner's, too. [A link to the film is in the article - FYI, it is a series of paintings with no audio and no audio description.] * You've heard of therapy dogs, but what about disabled therapy cats?<https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/05/12/cats-disabilities-help-students-de-stress-take-stigma-disability/30381/> "Cats on Campus" is not only helping students' mental health and stress, but also teaching lessons about disability. Click here to subscribe to NCCSD Weekly News Updates and other announcements<http://ahead-listserve.org/mailman/listinfo/DREAM_ahead-listserve.org>. 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..