TRU’s Accessibility Committee is hosting an event for AccessAbility Week and Red Shirt Day on May 28th from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. in HOL 190. Red Shirt Day celebrates accessibility and inclusion for individuals and families living with disabilities. Wear red and join us for an afternoon of learning and engagement.
Attendees will be introduced to TRU’s accessibility plan and learn from two guest presenters. Current TRU student Samantha Jo Haire will speak about her experience as a student with an invisible disability and our keynote Dr. Nan Stevens will provide a session called Accessibility and Inclusion for Students with Invisible Disabilities: What is Neurodiversity?
Red shirt day
Location: TRU House of Learning 190
Date: May 28, 2025
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Accessibility and inclusion for students with invisible disabilities: What is neurodiversity?
Red Shirt Day celebrates accessibility and inclusion for individuals and families living with disabilities. Unfortunately, an assumption made when speaking about individuals living with disabilities is to think of people living with visible disabilities, such as wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, visual impairment, Deaf and hard of hearing, etc. Under-representation of individuals living with invisible disabilities is a common theme in conversations about disability. This needs to change.
Invisible disabilities fall under the emergent term, Neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is the topic of a presentation by Dr. Nan Stevens, mother of neurodivergent young man, disabilities scholar, consultant, workshop facilitator, and author. Nan will unpack the phenomenon of invisible disabilities including the Neurodiversity Movement, its origins and history, theory, and best practice. TRU instructors, staff, students, and community will gain knowledge, understanding, and practical tools to better support neurodivergent students. ALL students deserve to feel safe in their courses and have the greatest chance for success.
When Nan’s first son was born with pervasive developmental delay, her personal and professional trajectory took shape. Her life’s work began – a journey to support her son and to advocate for those with diverse needs. Nan enjoyed a 20 year tenure as a Teacher Educator, where she had the privilege of influencing emergent K-12 teachers in becoming inclusive rôle models. Since retiring from Thompson Rivers University, she offers her lived experience and expertise as a disabilities scholar, family-centered care consultant, advocacy coach, workshop facilitator, and guest speaker. See www.nanstevens.com to learn more.
