Celebrating Disability Awareness Month 2024

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Ben Perez & Wendy Hillis headshots

Ben Perez & Wendy Hillis Win National Architecture Awards for UC Berkeley ADA Campus Master Plan

UC Berkeley’s Accessible Paths and Places Master Plan wins the 2024 SCUP Jury Choice Award and ASLA Honor Award for excellence in landscape architecture and open space planning.

above shot of the campanile and campus

Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Disability Access & Planning completing the first Campus Disability Strategic Plan

Focus groups of disabled faculty, staff, students and Berkeley city community organizations were held in the summer

In front of Sproul Hall, wheelchair ramps were added to the connecting passageway between Upper and Lower Sproul Plaza.

Learning in Honor of Disability Awareness Month

Some key figures and events of how UC Berkeley students make history in the Disability Rights Movement.

Each October, we honor Disability Awareness Month, which has a deep-rooted connection to UC Berkeley as a birthplace of the disability rights movement.

We also celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), recognizing the value and contributions of people with disabilities within our community and beyond. This year's NDEAM theme, "Access to Good Jobs for All," reinforces our commitment to creating inclusive environments where all individuals—students, staff, faculty, and community members—can thrive and have access to meaningful opportunities, both on campus and in the broader workforce.

Our campus continues to be a leader in advocating for the rights of disabled people, thanks to the tireless activism of disabled students and the allyship of faculty and staff. Together, we uphold Berkeley’s proud tradition of fostering inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities for all.

Student Orgs and Advocacy Groups

General Resources

  • RecWell Inclusive Recreation

    • Exercise is Medicine offers Fall 2024 DeCal courses on exercise and adaptive sports, including a focus on inclusive recreation for all.

    • Inclusive Recreation provides adaptive movement, accessible workout spaces, and equitable wellness opportunities for underserved populations, including people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and BIPOC.

    • Adaptive Sports Sampler Events include Goalball (Oct 18 & 25), Sitting Volleyball (Nov 8), and Pickleball (Nov 22), with no sign-ups or fees.

    • Adaptive Climbing sessions run from October 4 to December 12, offering equipment rentals, beginner classes, and free climbing events.

Invisible Disabilities

Sunflower graphic with text reading 'Invisible Disabilities' in the center, surrounded by the words 'Awareness - Support - Resources - Advocacy.' Below is a website URL: uhs.berkeley.edu/invisibledisabilities.

Invisible disabilities, such as chronic illnesses or mental health conditions, often go unnoticed but can significantly impact workplace experiences. At Berkeley, the Disability Management program is committed to fostering inclusivity, offering resources, training, and support for faculty and staff navigating these challenges. Learn about reasonable accommodations, workers' compensation, and available workshops to better understand and support invisible disabilities in the workplace.

Learn more about Invisible Disabilities and Disability Management

Topics

Articles and Profiles

Student Resources

Staff and Faculty Resources

Task Forces/Advisory Bodies

Disability Awareness Month 2024

A message from leadership to the campus community.

Events

Research

Headshot of Professor Laura Sterponi

Professor Laura Sterponi

She investigates autistic language using Interactional Linguistics and Conversation Analysis, uncovering communicative resourcefulness in autistic individuals that had previously been overlooked. This research has reshaped our understanding of echolalia, highlighting it as a purposeful and adaptive communication strategy rather than simply automatic repetition of words. Her scholarship advances the academic field of neurodiversity.

Headshot of Associate Professor Hannah Stuart

Associate Professor Hannah Stuart

Researches robotics, bioinspired robots, and human-robot interaction, focusing on improving dexterity and capabilities of robotic devices through innovative grippers, hands, and exoskeleton systems.

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