Students at Southwestern College have long defied the notation that disabilities prevent achievement. Some of SWC’s greatest students of the past decade have been disabled students. Award-winning debaters, journalists, athletes, scholars and student leaders have shown time and time again that having a disability does not mean being disadvantaged.

Members of the Abilities Beyond Limitations through Education (ABLE) Club and staff of SWC’s Disability Support Services came together for a spirited celebration of Disability Awareness Month and sent a strong message to the entire community—with a little support we can shine.

Beatrice Zamora, dean of counseling and matriculation, said universal design of a disabled-friendly facility can liberate students.

“It is the idea of building an environment that is open to all people,” she said.

It was not until the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act that accommodations like ramps, elevators and automatic doors became a priority, Zamora explained.

“Building a ramp is the same thing as building a staircase and it is even more convenient,” she said.

Zamora said she grew up with a brother who was born with spina bifida, a birth defect in which the backbone and the spinal cord are left exposed and visible, unprotected by any skin or tissues. At that time people were uninformed about disabilities, she said, and most did not want to be informed.

“It makes us feel vulnerable to see someone with disabilities,” she said.

“We need to bring to people the consciousness to be considerate because more of us have issues than not.”

When Zamora was a counselor at Mesa Community College the campus celebrated a week-long event called, “Festival of Colors.” One day of the week was dedicated to disability awareness, those who participated would volunteer to be in a wheelchair for an entire day. After being in a wheelchair for an entire day, Zamora said she felt more connected with her disabled peers.

“I felt invisible to the world, no one made eye contact with me,” she said.

Former SWC trustee and Purple Heart recipient Nick Aguilar was the guest speaker for this event because of his experiences in the Vietnam War and dealing with post traumatic stress disorder. He said he does not like to say the word disabled, “debilitating, maybe.” He said being disabled has encouraged him to strive harder to do the things he wanted to do. Aguilar said he spoke from a personal standpoint in hope that SWC students would be inspired to do the same.

“No one is really normal,” said Aguilar. “Having disabilities is just another thing that makes you special. I would not have been motivated and enabled to succeed and achieve things if I had been viewed as normal.”

Aguilar said he is amazed at the performance and unstoppable attitude of DSS students.

ABLE Club President Julia Najera, told students her club raises money to support DSS projects and scholarships. Last year ABLE Club and DSS staff joined forces to purchase an accessible van for SWC students.

“Our club is accessible to anyone with disabilities,” she said.

Najera said she lives with mild cerebral palsy. She was nominated for the top job by former club president Joe Chavez, a highly-respected figure in SWC student leadership.

She said her experience with a disability pushes her desire to help people like herself because she understands what it is like.

“If it was possible I would like to be out there once a week spreading awareness,” said Najera.

ABLE, with the help of the Alliance Club, contributed $10,000 last year to pay the final installment of a wheelchair accessible van.

Zamora urged members of the community to take a fresh look at disabled students. “There are two sides to coming to college, education and human development,” she  said. “You will work with disabled individuals. In the real world you will be exposed to different cultures, philosophies and perspectives, so become a well-rounded person and spread the word because other people may live life differently than you do.”