Disability and Diversity Meet at Student Conference May 21

Western Washington University student Elmer Carampot Jr. is organizing a disability awareness event called “Diversity and Disability: Voices of the Community."

The event will take place 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 in the Fairhaven Auditorium and feature a documentary film called “Lives Worth Living” and a discussion led by differently abled students.

The event is meant to inspire productive conversations among students and raise questions about the state of inclusion on college campuses. The event asks students of all levels of ability to think about their voice in the community. 

“I know it’s really difficult to be a college student with a disability,” Carampot said. “When you have communication challenges or something that people don’t understand it is hard to find support.”

Carampot is a senior at Western studying Communication Studies. Two years ago he found out he was highly functioning autistic. The event was inspired by his experience as a college student and he says he hopes it will get students thinking about diversity and disability.

Carampot first entered college eight years ago and after a difficult first quarter, he took a year off.  He is familiar with the difficulties students with communication challenges or mental impairments have in the traditional college setting.

The goal of this event is to open a channel of communication about disabilities. Carampot wants students without disabilities to understand how they can help support differently abled students and to know that offering support isn’t as hard as it may seem.

“Just be an ally,” Carampot said.      

This event is co-sponsored by the IDEA Institute and the Center for Community Learning.