Stories of Disability

A huge amount of gratitude to the bravery and vulnerability shared by our storytellers:

• Justin Lawler,'09, Director of Campus Recreation
• Beth Lowell, Assistant Director, Career Services
• Phoenix Lewis, Sophomore, Psychology Major
• Fahad Alden, Senior '25, Digital Media & English
• Brian Dervin, Admissions Counselor
• Kai Sweetland-stultz, Freshman, Physics

Jodi and Lauren chat with DS Specialist Evelyn O'Connor and Peer Coaches Fahad Alden and Kalib Laughran to learn a bit more about them personally and the work they do here. We also chat a bit about what we're proud of from this semester as well as how we will care for ourselves over the break.

Jodi and Lauren had a vibrant conversation with David Driscoll (Director of the Testing Centers), Julia Bruce (Senior Biomedical Engineering major), and Kalib Laughran (Senior Business Administration major) about how they recovered their academic careers after rough starts. We loved hearing about the resiliance, overcoming shame, and positive circumstances they have found. If you want a refreshing start to the new school year, take a listen!

We learned a LOT in episode 16 about athletes, sports, and disability. Lauren and Jodi were joined by nursing student Catherine Faherty who participates on the US National Women's Sled Hockey Team, Cailin Currie (Merrimack College MA in Higher Education student) who is a two time Paralympian swimmer, and Dr. Jeff Gerson, professor of sports and politics. Some links to topics discussed are as follows:

• U.S. National Sled Team, U.S. Women’s Development Sled Team Each Sweep 2024 Sled Series
• Ice Warriors Documentary
• How Paralympic Gold Medalist Mallory Weggemann Didn’t Let Her Injury Define Her
• Breaking the Cycle: Ableism and the phenomenon of lowered expectations | Cheri Blauwet | TEDxBoston

The latest episode is all about the Veteran's Disability Experience. Jodi and Lauren were joined by 3 Veterans - Marc Fountain '17 Psychology (US Airforce and US Army / US Army Reserve), Peter MacDonald Student in the Business Analytics MS program (U.S. Marine Corps), Levinia St. Jean student in the Leadership in Education PhD program (U.S. Air Force & part-time guardsman), Dr. Janine Wert UML Director of Veteran's Services, and Bill McDevitt UML Assistant Director of Veteran's Services. We had a robust conversation about their nontraditional higher education experience and although disability is one of their identities, the values and persistence from their time in the military have supported them through.

Jodi and Lauren talk about disability identity, community, and diagnosis at different life stages with Sue Kim, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Ann Ciaraldi, Associate Dean of Student Affairs; Kelley Lawson, Assistant Director of Student Success & Communications, Honors College, and Courtney Morin, Biomedical Engineering Senior.

At long last, Episode 13! Jodi and Lauren talk about putting oneself out there in a new environment and being vulnerable with Hannah Monbleau, Assistant Director of Student Life and Well-Being; and Sayf Al-Aziz Rashid, Freshman in Chemical Engineering.

Episode 12: Jodi and Lauren talked with Dr. Diana Walker-Moyer, Nurse Practitioner and recently retired Director of the UML Health Services; Dr. Stephen Lam Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at UML; Amanda Holthaus, Nurse and UML graduate student in the Zuckerberg School of Public Health; and Matt Daneau, UML senior in Plastics Engineering about whether society is in a distraction epidemic, and being diagnosed with ADHD and the impact on at various ages, gender, staying focused, and society's expectations.