Cara Jones & Jayden Gibson
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The Special Education Department at Winthrop University hosted a panel discussion focused on the language used when discussing disabilities and mental health, including the power words can have to shape beliefs and influence attitudes.

The free event, entitled “Reframing the Conversation on Disability and Mental Health,” included speakers who shared their personal and professional experiences, in order to address misconceptions and offer guidance on how to create a more respectful and inclusive environment.

The panel discussion was held March 11 in the Richardson Ballroom.

Organizers say reframing the conversation on disability at Winthrop is important, because they want to make students feel like they belong on campus.

“I think this campus does a really good job of making sure people belong and have that sense of community,” said Olivia Spivey, a senior special education major, who helped organize the event.

“Making sure people are part of the conversation and able to come to the events and make sure they are accessible is a really good way to make sure that everyone feels like they belong here,” she said.

Spivey, who is also a resident assistant, was recently presented with the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award for her “extraordinary impact on Winthrop and the surrounding community,” according to a university release.

Panelists said conversations about disability haven’t always been in the forefront and that people with disabilities or mental health issues are often overlooked.

“Finally, disabilities are starting to really be included in DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). I don’t think that was at the top of the list, the top of people’s priorities,” panelist Miranda Knight, the interim dean of students at Winthrop, told the group.

“I think that people are finally realizing that there are disabilities seen and unseen and that the big thing is the unseen disabilities. It’s not just if you see somebody with a seeing eye dog or using a wheelchair or something; there are a lot of disabilities that you can’t see,” Knight said.

The panelists said disability and mental health are important issues and they want people to know there are resources available to those who need them and they don’t have to feel ashamed.

Dylan Thomas, a senior English major and resident assistant, also helped to organize the event. He was recently presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for his leadership efforts as a peer mentor and academic coach.