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Disability Employment Awareness Month

Learn About How WGU Recognizes Disability Employment Awareness Month


 

WGU is committed to promoting inclusion, respect, and acceptance for differences, equal opportunity, and diversity in everything that we do. It's why we endeavor to be the most inclusive university in the world. WGU is bridging the gap between talent and opportunity by offering high-quality, equitable higher education that is accessible regardless of your location or background.

We aim to recognize, support, and amplify students' voices while creating greater pathways to opportunities for students across the country. By putting degree opportunities within reach and improving access to learning, we advance equity for every student.

Join us as we recognize Disability Employment Awareness Month, and learn how students and employees are making a difference in their communities around the country.

Student & Employee Spotlights

National Disability Employee Awareness Month: Employee and Student Spotlight Carli Mullen

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 18 million people with disabilities in today’s workforce. Carli Mullen is one of them.

National Disability Employee Awareness Month: Employee Spotlight Kris Hansen

Kris loves attending Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and even helped create WGU’s Disability Owls. The Disability Owls ERG aims to create an inclusive, supportive environment for WGU employees who identify as neurodiverse or have a disability.

National Disability Employee Awareness Month: Employee and Student Spotlight Renee Gardner

Renee Gardner began her WGU journey as a master's student. Now she is an Orientation Advisor that helps new WGU students that are beginning their own academic journeys.

"The Disability Owls ERG is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that fosters a sense of community and expands access and opportunity for WGU's employees who identify as having a disability, are neurodiverse, and those who support people with disability and neurodiversity. The Disability Owls ERG provides a forum for members to connect, raise awareness, and share education and resources in support of WGU's employees with disability or neurodiversity."

–WGU Disability Owls Employee Resource Group

October 2023

No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision

 

Join us for a conversation with Lex Gillette who is a globally recognized Paralympian, competing primarily in the long jump. He’s a five-time Paralympic medalist, four-time world champion, and the current world record holder in long jump for totally blind athletes.

Commencement Speaker - Christine Ha

Christine Ha is the first-ever blind contestant and season 3 winner of MasterChef and author of "Recipes From My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food", Christine Ha delivered the WGU Commencement Address in Dallas in February 2022.

Advance Equity Speaker Series

WGU DE&I hosted a conversation with Judith (Judy) Heumann who is an internationally recognized disability rights activist and leader. Judy was instrumental in the development and implementation of key legislations (e.g., Section 504, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Over the span of her impressive career, Judy has held noteworthy government and civic appointments to expand the global reach of her work, including serving for two U.S. Presidents, the Mayor of D.C., and as the first advisor on disability and development for the World Bank. In addition to her degree from Long Island University and Master of Public Health from University of California at Berkeley, she has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees from universities across the United States including University of Pittsburgh, Middlebury College, and Smith College.

“Disability Rights: Past, Present, and Future: A Conversation with Judy Heumann “Mother of Disability Rights””

Learn more about Judy Heumann

Co-sponsored by Office of the Provost

Featured Articles

From the trauma of war to the triumph of a college degree

For Jaime Lopez Rivera, earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from WGU in 2020 was an undeniable triumph over trauma. Nearly 20 years ago, he launched a military career with the U.S. Army, which took him to Seoul, South Korea; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and Kuwait.

Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a celebration of the law passed 30 years ago.

SPED teacher's disability bonds her to students

When WGU special education graduate Julie Young heard an exasperated teacher apologize to her for needing her help recently, she realized one of the greatest barriers teachers face in the classroom is themselves.

Scholarships Available for Affordable Education

Scholarships are one of the many ways in which WGU removes obstacles from your path to achieving your education goals and improving your career opportunities.

Partner Connect Scholarship

WGU is pleased to offer the WGU Partner Connect Scholarship for employees and members of WGU’s partners who wish to advance their education in the business, education, information technology, or healthcare fields. Each scholarship is valued up to $2,500 per student ($625 per six-month term for four terms).

Online Access Scholarship

We are offering the Online Access Scholarship to new students beginning a program at WGU. The scholarship will provide recipients with a New Student Online Access Scholarship Kit that includes a hotspot enabled laptop, complete with an external webcam for the duration that a student is active and in good standing.

Back to School Scholarship

A bachelor’s or master’s degree can do great things for your career—and for your family’s future. With WGU’s commitment to student success and low tuition, higher education is accessible to busy working adults. We believe that you have what it takes to be a successful student—even if it’s been years or decades since you last opened a textbook.