Panel: Disabilities and Inclusive Communities:  Cases and Causes

PANEL: Disabilities and Inclusive Communities:  Cases and Causes

Thursday, March 14, 5:00-7:00 PM

Renaissance Hotel, Columbus OH

This panel of practitioners share their experiences advocating for people with disabilities.  While “removal of barriers” to housing, education, political participation, and employment is an important cause for people with disabilities, it is also vital to consider how their perspectives inform the way we construct communities and social values.  

Bios for Session:

Nancy Evangelista, Professor of Psychology and Provost, Muskingum University

Dr. Evangelista is Provost of Muskingum University.  She began her career as a psychologist working in early childhood and family intervention settings.  These experiences have informed her commitment, as a faculty member and administrator, to creating inclusive university communities.  As Provost of Muskingum University, Dr. Evangelista leads both the Academic Affairs and Student Life units, offering a vision of integrated student learning emphasizing access.

Traci Tuttle, Executive Director of the PLUS Program and Disability Education Office and Assistant Professor of Education, Muskingum University

Dr. Tuttle was a special education teacher in the public K-12 setting before beginning her career in higher education as a Disability Services provider.  For the past 12 years, Dr. Tuttle has managed support services for college students with disabilities and prepared future teachers of students with disabilities.  She has helped parents of students with special needs become knowledgeable advocates. Under her direction, Muskingum University’s PLUS program is focused on building self-advocacy and independence for individuals with disabilities.   

Sue Hetrick, Executive Director of Center for Disability Empowerment

Sue Hetrick is the Executive Director of CDE and has more than 20 years of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities. She served as advocacy and public policy director for the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, as a parent advocate for the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and as regional leadership coordinator for ARC of Ohio. Sue has been honored with several national advocacy awards and has served on numerous disability-related coalitions, including the Ohio Olmstead Taskforce, the Secretary of State’s ADA Advisory Committee, and the Ohio Disability Employment Alliance. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Bowling Green State University and is the parent of a young adult son who has developmental disabilities.