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Center for Disability Empowerment Youth Leadership Symposium and Disability Studies Program Open House

A stack of books with a pencil cup on top of them. To the left is a plant and to the right is a mug and clock.
Mon, January 19, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
311 Denney Hall

Join us for the 2026 Center for Disability Empowerment (CDE) Youth Leadership Symposium and Disability Studies (DS) Program Open House!

This shared event is a great opportunity for high school students, college students, and community members to come together to build connections, share knowledge, and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The teach-in will focus on Dr. King’s concept of “creative maladjustment,” as explained in his 1967 speech to the American Psychological Association. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to browse information about movements and theories including Black Disability Studies, Disability Justice, and DisCrit, as well as work by scholars, artists, and activists from OSU and the larger community.

In tandem with the CDE teach-in, the DS Program will be continuing the tradition of giving away plants and other free gifts. Join us in Denney 311 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to enjoy some food, meet our newest community partner, and re-establish connections for 2026!

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is not required. Denney Hall has one automatic-opening door (west side entrance); elevators at both building entrances; and a gender-free restroom. For further access requests, please contact disabilitystudies@osu.edu.

Agenda of Events

  • Disability Studies Program Open House, Denney 311, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

  • Youth Leadership Symposium, Denney 312, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  • Speakers:
    • Dr. David Adams, Associate Professor of English at OSU, 10:20 am - 10:35 am
    • Dr. Charles Athanasopoulos, Assistant Professor of Black Rhetoric & Popular Culture at OSU, 10:50 am - 11: 05 am 
    • Jim Ward, ADA Watch, 11:40 am - 11:55 am
    • Dr. Octavian Robinson, Associate Professor and Director of the Buckeye Sign Language and Multimodal Collaborative at OSU, 12:25 pm - 12:40 pm
    • LaQuinta "Q" Haynes, U.S. National Women's Amputee Soccer Team, 1:30 pm - 1:45 pm
    • Sterling Nix II, PhD student in the Department of History of Art at OSU, 2:05 pm - 2:20 pm

Interested in volunteering?

Please complete this brief interest form by January 14th if you’d like to volunteer as a Student Peer Mentor.

Questions about the event? 

Contact disabilitystudies@osu.edu

Questions about CDE? 

Contact Maddy at mrandolph@disabilityempowerment.net

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