Disability Awareness Week

Don’t miss our first ever Deaf Storytelling Night with comedic and dramatic acts by Patrick Fischer (aka Mr Shineyhead)! There is still room for performers, so if you are interested, show up tonight and get on stage! Here’s a taste of what’s to come:

From Kristian Randall | May 26, 2011| The Daily

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As part of the Every Body Freeze, Now flash mob, professor Jurg Koch created a film that presents collected impressions about access to Red Square as a public space. The video was projected after the Flash Mob and during the Cripping Culture poetry event.

Thank you to everyone who attended the flash mob today despite the cold and rain! Your freezing helped make it an awesome event! We’d like to take a moment to give thanks for the sponsors and organizers. First and foremost, thank you to the UW Dance Program and all the members of DASA and SDC for making this event possible.

Special thanks to Ann Luetzow, who had an enormous role in organizing the event. Without her hard work and commitment, we would not have been able to have such a successful event!

Many thanks also to Jurg Koch, Dyane Haynes, Noah Seidel, Jesse Minkert, Tobias Cullins, Joanne Woiak, Ann Maclean, Stanley Sakai, Andrew Scudder, Roberta Bustamante, Dan Comden, Elliott Nutt and Gretchen Bennett.

Tomorrow evening at the Cripping Culture poetry event, we’ll get a chance to reflect on the flash mob and watch a video component that was shown during the freezing. Be sure to come! Bring friends! Bring poetry! Bring art and celebrate disability!

Hello everyone,

Finally… the moment we’ve ALL been waiting for has (almost) arrived. today, WEDNESDAY, May 25th, on Red Square, at 12:20, there will be the FLASH MOB, as part of Disability Awareness Week.

To clear some things up… we will freeze, not dance, and you don’t need to get there early. Just show up to Red Square at 12:20. bring a friend. Bring two. Bring your professor. Bring a lover. Kiss them. Freeze mid-high five or spill your soda. Sprawl out on the ground, or freeze under an umbrella if it’s raining — THIS EVENT WILL GO ON, RAIN OR SHINE.

How to participate:

Get to Red Square at 12:20, wait for the start cue: a man in the middle of Red Square releasing a blue balloon and saying “OH NO, MY BLUE BALLOON!”

FREEZE. For five minutes. Don’t dance. You’ll be the only one.

You’ll know it’s over when you hear the end cue: the audio describer saying “…and five minutes have passed…” and otherwise everyone else unfreezing.

We’ll be freezing for FIVE MINUTES between 12:20 and 12:30, we don’t know when exactly, which is why you should watch/listen for the start cue.

For more information, check out our website: http://faculty.washington.edu/kochj/freezenow.html

Hope to see you (and your friends) tomorrow!

Happy Disability Awareness Week 🙂

In order to accommodate more people for the Redefining Bodies Panel, we’ve moved the location from Mary Gates Hall 288 to 271.

In addition, the Deaf Storytelling Night will be in Parrington Hall Forums (Room 309) instead of Commons (Room 308) the rooms are right across from each other).

We apologize for the inconvenience! We will have signs and volunteers at the events to redirect you to the new rooms. Thanks!

Joining us on May 23 at the Redefining Bodies panel, will be Nathan Makan, a junior at UW and an Apple Campus Rep. He will give a brief presentation on the accessibility features for Apple products.
Apple has always made efforts to make their technology more accessible, but the features often go unknown. Visit the Apple accessibility site to learn more!

Nathan will be available for demos after the event is over.

The flash mob is now only one week away! Here is a detailed outline of what will be happening on event day: next Wednesday, May 25^th

Though freezing will be taking place on Red Square between 12:20 and 12:30, we will have an (optional) pre-event meet-up near Red Square to congregate and get on the same page. However, if you cannot make it to this optional meeting, don’t worry! Come directly to the square and watch/listen for the:

starting cue: a man releasing of a blue balloon from a slab in the center of Red Square, shouting, “OH NO, MY BLUE BALLOON” (note: simultaneous visual and audio cue)

ending cue: the voice describer saying, “…and five minutes have passed,” and otherwise people unfreezing and continuing on their way  (audio, then visual cue)

FLASH MOB EVENT TIMELINE:

noon: begin to congregate between Kane, Savery, Gowen/Smith and Suzallo, just past Red Square on the pavement. SEE ATTACHED CAMPUS MAP, or email ann.luetzow@gmail.com to request one. Look for signs that say “Every Body Meeting Point.” If you’re have trouble finding us, call or text (262)994-5663 for specific instructions. 

12:10: Brief info session to confirm procedures of the event. ASL Interpreter will be present.

12:15: Head over to Red Square, disperse and prepare for the FREEZE.

between 12:20-12:25: watch/listen for the starting cue (a man releasing of a blue balloon from a slab in the center of Red Square, shouting, “OH NO, MY BLUE BALLOON”). We will be freezing for 5 minutes, starting at undetermined time between 12:20 and 12:15.  

between 12:25-12:30: listen/watch for the ending cue (the voice describer saying, “…and five minutes have passed,” and otherwise people unfreezing and continuing on their way). The flash will then be over! 

Reminders: This event is being filmed/documented by multiple entities. By participating you give full consent for this material to be used and published, on UW TV and Youtube, in the Daily, as well as other news sources. If you would like to be credited in our version of the video and on the website, please send us an email with your name to be included in the list. If you have any questions regarding filming and publicity, please contact ann.luetzow@gmail.com.

Thank you for participating!

For more information about the Flash Mob, please visit http://faculty.washington.edu/kochj/freezenow.html

With one week left before Disability Awareness Week, we’re certainly getting jittery with excitement! Keep checking the blog for updates as we continue to post daily inspirations.

Also revisit our page on Redefining Bodies, for updated information on our panelists. Joining us on the 23rd is Gaby de Jongh from the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program.

For today’s inspiration, check out an innovative performance by Claire Cunningham:

ME(Mobile/Evolution) by Claire Cunningham from Claire Cunningham on Vimeo.

Deaf, hard-of-hearing? ASL student? Interested in learning sign language? We welcome everyone– experts and novices– to come to the Q Center (Schmitz 450) for Sign Time, Wednesday, May 18 from 3:30-4:30pm.