The Disability Advocacy Group, founded in March 2022, is a peer-led group of students, faculty, and staff who are passionate about the visibility, inclusion, representation, agency and full participation of persons with disabilities at the University of Rhode Island.
MISSION: Our mission is to empower persons with disabilities, whether students, faculty, or staff, to engage fully in all that URI has to offer on an equitable basis.
We will accomplish this mission through working in four areas:
Information. This includes gathering and sharing information about disabilities, experiences, accommodations, and barriers. Information will also include training in all these areas for faculty, staff, and students.
Advocacy. We need to build awareness within the campus community about people with disabilities, what we stand for, what we need, and what rights we have. As a group, we will support each other in this effort and take action to advance the rights of people with disabilities.
Social activities. We need a safe place where we can talk with each other about disabilities and our shared experiences. Our efforts toward achieving social justice will include outreach to and engagement with other groups also seeking social justice.
Community building. Persons with disabilities are a vital part of society, we will celebrate our pride in our contributions, as individuals with disabilities, allies and members of the wider community. We will provide support and mentorship for students, staff and faculty with disabilities both within and outside URI.
The Disability Pride Flag shown in the banner image was designed by Ann Magill, the flag represents: The Black Field: A color of mourning and rage; for those who are victims of ableist violence, and also rebellion and protest. The Five Colors: The variety of needs and experiences (invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, sensory disabilities). The Parallel Stripes: Solidarity within the Disability Community and all its differences. The Diagonal Band: “Cutting across” barriers that separate disabled people; creativity and light cutting through the darkness.