Creating the D Center at the University of Washington, Seattle

1. Creating the D Center at the University of Washington, Seattle Ann Luetzow AHEAD Conference Baltimore, Maryland July 11, 2013

2. Presentation Overview • background • 2011-2013 overview • support & awareness • funding • naming • mission statement • photos • future • questions

3. D Center Background • long history of disability activism • Sue Kroeger external review Autumn 2010 • series of memos between students and administrators, Spring 2011 • DRS renovation announced Spring 2011 • DRS = Disability Resources for Students • students claim student space adjacent to DRS remodel • the space was intended for use by students to create a cultural center

4. 2011-2012 overview • Autumn 2011 • DRS renovation committee, architect selection • “what will happen in this space?” • My role as Director of the Student Disability Commission • Winter 2012 • acquisition of support & awareness of initiative • Services & Activities Fee (SAF) funding application • Spring 2012 • regular student work group meetings • The entire SAF budget was approved (very rare)!

5. 2012-2013 overview • Summer 2012 • Designing of positions and preliminary planning • Hiring of Financial and Operations Coordinator • Autumn 2012 • Hiring of Outreach & Programming Coordinator and Media & Publications Coordinator • Winter 2012 • Planning • Spring 2012 • Grand Opening Party! April 5, 2013 • Re-awarding of SAF Funding for 2013-2014!

6. support & awareness • conversations with administrators for support from VP offices • collection of 26 letters of support for SAF funding proposal • presentations at student group meetings, student government, boards & councils, meetings with administrators, unit directors, students, etc. • continued conversations with university and greater community • facebook, blog, student work group

7. funding • Student Life • funding for DRS renovation & D Center creation • Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity • $7,500/year for 3 years, programming money • SAF 2012-2013 • total budget of $37,673 approved, includes: • 3 .375 FTE student employees (1.125 FTE total) • supplies/materials & equipment • ASL interpreter/CART captioning fund • SAF 2013-2014 • highly comparable budget to 2012-2013 approved

8. naming • tensions between the Disability and Deaf communities on campus • first vote: Disability Cultural Center • Deaf community’s participation contingent on “Disability” not appearing in name of Center • final name: The D Center • attempt to be as inclusive as possible, can represent “Disability” “Deaf” “Diversity,” etc. • also reflects our goal of “de-centering” norms to center diverse experiences & perspectives

9. mission statement • “The D Center strives to create an inclusive, accessible space affirming of all bodies, minds and identities by fostering a culture of social justice and pride.”

10. mission statement continued • The D Center strives to better our Communities by: • Fostering a community of d/Disability and d/Deaf pride. • Centering & promoting social justice through creating an inclusive anti-oppressive environment. • Sharing resources and tools for self-advocacy and empowerment. • Developing and supporting social, cultural & educational programming. • Collaborating to build stronger communities and coalitional ties. • Engaging students, faculty, staff and community members with the principles of Universal Design. • Promoting a socio-cultural understanding of disability to transform our society.

11. D Center Coordinators 2013 Lee Steadman - Financial and Operations Coordinator Hannah Langlie - Outreach & Programming Coordinator Christine Liao - Media & Publications Coordinator

12. D Center on facebook

13. D Center website

14. questions • Do you have any questions? any/all documents relevant to D Center available upon request, including a detailed history with supplemental emails, letters, proposals, agendas, meeting notes, etc. contact Ann at ann.luetzow@gmail.com or 262.994.5663