Terra hosts 'Focus on Disabilities' event

FREMONT -- Terra Community College is honoring National Disabilities Awareness Month in October with a disabilities awareness event open to the public.

"Focus on Disabilities," from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, on the Terra campus, will feature a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, round table discussions, vendor displays and an art exhibit.

"We're very excited about the program we have assembled for the event," said Ron Dannemiller, coordinator of Learning Support Services at Terra. "We hope everyone leaves with the message that we should focus on people's abilities, not their disabilities."

Will McDaniel, a comedian from Bowling Green, will kick off the day with a keynote presentation about his experiences. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, McDaniel is a veteran of the U.S. Army and has toured with Big Laughs Comedy Tour and has been part of Operation Belly Laughs.

The following is a schedule of the concurrent breakout sessions:

11-11:50 a.m.:

* Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD) and Bi-Polar Disorders with Tally Gallogly, LPCC, CEAP, employee assistance program manager; and Ryan Travis, MD, both of Fremont Memorial Hospital

* Deafness with Denice Hinojosa, CI, CT, NAD IV, sign language interpreter with Professional Interpreters for the Deaf

* Coping with Blindness with John and Tom Hoffert

Noon-12:50 p.m.:

* Exploring Abilities Through Art with Joe Szafarowicz, MA, author of the Exploring Math Through Art and Art Integrated Math Programs at the University of Toledo and Jill Caruso, employment specialist with the Ability Center of Greater Toledo

* Asperger Syndrome with Linell Weinberg, MSW, director of the Autism Society of Northwest Ohio and 2005 recipient of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters' Community Hero Award in Community Service.

* Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD) and Bi-Polar Disorders Roundtable Discussion led by Gallogly and Travis

2 to 2:50 p.m.:

* Learning Disabilities with Tim Cullen, M.A., director of Student Services at Fremont City Schools

* Exploring Abilities Through Art Roundtable Discussion with Szafarowicz, Caruso

* Asperger Syndrome with Weinberg

While the event is free and open to the public, organizers would like people to register. Please call Ron at 419-559-2342 or stop by Roy Klay Hall (Building A), Suite 100 for a registration form. Deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 15.