For the first time since students fully returned to campus, Long Beach City College hosted a Disabilities Resource Fair which included a raffle consisting of three winners, with assorted prizes worth up to $100 from LBCC’s Bookstore.
During this fair there were roughly 20 booths bringing attention to their programs on Thursday April 14th.
Each booth brought distinctive material to provide an understanding of the uniqueness regarding each group.
These tables offered flyers, stickers, ample information to bring light to their cause, and even candies for students to utilize in order to help better grasp the different worlds that DSPS students can thrive in.
In addition to a courtyard filled with vendors, food was offered as students walked up. Tote bags were given to help collect material from each table, and a chance to enter a raffle.
Not only was this event open to all LBCC students, but three high schools were invited to attend as well. These three highschools being Jordan High, Poly High, and Cabrillo High.
“As the students came up, and the teachers came up, they said it was a very good event and it was informative for the students. And they liked that we had a variety of vendors,” April McGlothan said, as she gave feedback she received from these schools.
Most booths admitted that COVID was the biggest setback for them however, Elizabeth Diaz, staff and students with DSPS provide further insight on their biggest hurdle.
“Stigma against disabilities is probably one of the biggest things that we face I think the connotation is ‘special ed’. Just that negative connotation that comes with that and we want to let them know it’s not negative. Actually, your disability can be one of your biggest assets,” said Diaz.
Mia Tabayoyong, one of the disability support services specialists with the DSPS, has been working with this program for close to three years now.
During the event, Tabayoyong took a moment to appreciate the production the staff put on to say, “We did it”
These few words aid well in showcasing the victory this program won in spreading awareness and providing resources disabled students can use to help succeed as well as draw others into joining their program to help others thrive in and outside of school.
This resource fair contained groups including the “Able Arts Work”, “OC D.E.A.F”, the “Student Health Services”, “OurTism”, to name a few.
This event was held outside building A on the LAC campus, and has hopes for returning again in the future to become an annual event.