On Thursday, May 7, students and faculty across campus gathered for Disability Graduation, an event which celebrates disabled graduates and those completing the Critical Disability Studies portfolio/minor.
Three graduating social work students (Fabiola Amaya, Phoebe Cosgrove, and Romey Fennell) spoke during the ceremony, as well as Dr. Sandy Magaña, Professor in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and the executive director of the Texas Center for Disability Studies. The event also included a keynote address by Dr. Andrew Dell’Antonio, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music.
Amaya, a MSSW graduate in the administrative and policy practice track, is a former intern at the U.S. Department of Labor and served as a graduate research assistant at UT Social Work. Her speech centered on the importance of resiliency and being a force in disability advocacy, including advocating for change and accessibility. She plans to work in disability advocacy after graduation.
Cosgrove, a BSW graduate, served as an Undergraduate Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security at UT Austin and as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Texas Trailblazers: Gay Gaddis Leadership Program. Her speech focused on celebrating differences and beginning conversations with individuals from other walks of life. She plans to return to UT Austin in the fall to begin her MSSW degree.
Fennell, a dual BSW and COLA graduate, interned at Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center and worked as a student employee at the Disability Cultural Center. In her speech, she spoke on the importance of finding a community at UT Austin, and how the disabled community allowed her to thrive in both school and life. She intends to take a gap year before completing a MSSW degree.
The event was hosted at the San Jacinto Hall Multipurpose Room by the Disability Cultural Center, Disability and Access, and Longhorn TIES.