Highline College celebrates Disability Awareness Month in October

Published 11:20 am Monday, September 29, 2014

Kate Vrijmoet's artwork is part of a Highline program/exhibit
Kate Vrijmoet's artwork is part of a Highline program/exhibit

For the Reporter

The public is invited to free events to de-stigmatize mental illness as Highline College celebrates Disability Awareness Month throughout October.

All events will be on Highline College’s main campus in Des Moines, located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99).

Disability Awareness Month events are co-sponsored by a number of Highline College departments and programs: Access Services, Center for Leadership and Service, Counseling Department, ESL Programs, Library Exhibit Committee and the Veterans 45 program.

• Date/Time: Oct. 1–30

Art Exhibit: “The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human: An Exhibition to End the Stigma of Mental Illness”

Location: Building 25 (Library), 4th floor

Description: A provocative exhibit intends to examine the stigma and silence surrounding mental illness. Artists working in variety of media – from paintings and sculpture to performance and poetry – invite the community to come together to speak about mental illness and its effects on our society. For exhibit times, visit exhibits.highline.edu.

• Date/Time: Oct. 7, 12–1:30 p.m.

Event: Art Exhibit Opening Reception with Kate Vrijmoet, curator and participating artists

Location: Building 25 (Library), 4th floor

• Date/Time: Oct. 9, 1–2 p.m.

Workshop: “Depression 101” presented by the Highline Counseling department staff

Location: Building 8 (Highline Student Union), Mt. Skokomish room

• Date/Time: Oct. 13, 12–1:30 p.m.

Workshop: “Recognizing and Responding to Stress and Anxiety” presented by Demetrius Hatcher, Highline Veterans 45 program

Location: Building 6, room 151

• Date/Time: Oct. 16, 9–11 a.m.

Event: “Voices Up: Writing Our Grit and Silk” poetry reading and workshop by Ann Teplick

Location: Building 7

• Date/Time: Oct. 16, 1–2:30 p.m.

Workshop: “Past Trauma, Migration and Adjustment to Life in the United States” presented by Beth Farmer, International Counseling & Community Services

Location: Building 19, room 201

• Date/Time: Oct. 21, 1–2 p.m.

Workshop: “Threatening Students—Debunking Myths” presented by Allison Lau, Highline Counseling department

Location: Building 8 (Highline Student Union), Mt. Skokomish room

• Date/Time: Oct. 22, 1–2 p.m.

Workshop: “Living a Disabled Life” presented by Steve Ferreira

Location: Building 7

• Date/Time: Oct. 23, 1 p.m.

Event: “Mother for You I Made This” performance by Ezra Dickinson

Location: Building 2

• Date/Time: Oct. 23, 1:20 p.m.

Event: “Hollywood Got Us All Wrong” talk presented by Lynn Schirmer

Location: Building 2

• Date/Time: Oct. 28, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Event: Wellness screening conducted by the Highline Counseling department staff

Location: Building 8 (Highline Student Union), Mt. Constance and Mt. Olympus rooms