Inclusion. Belonging. Shared Humanity. Disabilities.
Join us for an EMPOWERING half-day symposium designed to UPLIFT voices and CELEBRATE the diversity of experiences among individuals with genetic, physical, behavioral, or intellectual differences.
Attendees will engage with inspiring stories, form meaningful connections, and promote education and advocacy. We aim to model inclusion through our shared humanity and acknowledgment of more similarities than differences.
Together, let’s embrace our shared humanity, focusing on unity over division. Be a part of the movement where our commonalities shine and our differences are celebrated.
Attendees are welcome to come and go as they please throughout the in-person event at EPNEC. For a map and parking information, please click here.
Tuesday, May 21
11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC) Auditorium
For information, contact Deven Stepney.
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Washington University School of Medicine is committed to inclusion. If you are a person with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, at least one week before the event, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Deven Stepney in advance at devens@wustl.edu.
A recording of the keynotes and panel sessions will be available following the event.
Special thanks to our sponsors for empowering this celebration of inclusion: Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Program of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy; Departments of Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, OBGYN, and more. Your support is the foundation of our shared vision for a united community.
Event Details
Tentative Schedule
Interactive Exhibition and Reception
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Enjoy light appetizers and beverages while engaging with immersive displays, exploring interactive installations, and networking with attendees and community partners.
DeafInc is dedicated to providing effective communication access to the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals in the St. Louis metro area.
DUO Dogs is a national nonprofit organization that trains and connects dogs with people to cultivate positive change in individuals, families, and communities.
Office of Military & Veteran Services focuses on transitioning military-connected students into higher education, providing and connecting students with programs and services, and partnering across campus and in the community.
Paraquad champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy.
Starkloff Institute is focused on building inclusion through disability-led programs that advance economic opportunity and transform lives.
St. Louis Arc empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives by providing a lifetime of high-quality services, family support, and advocacy.
St. Louis Society of the Blind provides low-vision services to the blind and visually impaired with a focus on helping individuals regain and maintain their independence.
TinySuperheroes through Capes and Community, TinySuperheroes is on a mission to change the way the world sees illness or disability.
Unlimited Play is an award winning non-profit organization that builds universally accessible playgrounds to promote health and wellness while transforming communities by providing the freedom of play for ALL children and families.
Keynote #1: Inequities in Healthcare and Ablism in Medical Education
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, Assistant Professor in the Program in Occupational Therapy and Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine, earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Movement Science from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Most recently, she earned a certificate in Implementation Science through the University of California, San Francisco. She is actively involved in conducting research and mentoring health professional students. Prior to working at Washington University, Dr. Morgan served as an intern at the White House in the Presidential Personnel Office and at Devonshire Hospital in the Occupational Therapy Department in London, England. She is a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She has served on many organizational and state boards (e.g., Paraquad Independent Living Center, St. Louis City Office for the Disabled and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation). Dr. Morgan is also an avid wheelchair athlete and distinguished Paralympian. In 2009, she was the first woman to be selected to represent the U.S. National Wheelchair Rugby team. She has competed in three Paralympic Games on the U.S. Track and Field team that included Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. She has won four Paralympic medals and 10 World Championship medals in distances ranging from 100m to 800m.
Panel Discussion on Inclusive Workplaces
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
This panel discussion will feature experts sharing insights and strategies aimed at fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting diversity, equity, and belonging within organizational settings.
Moderated by Brian Wessman, MD, Professor, Anesthesiology & Emergency Medicine, parent advocate.
Panelists:
- Aimee Wehmeier, MBA, President at Paraquad, Inc.
- Thy Huskey, MD, FAAPMR, Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurology
- Seantika (Tika) Oliver, Accounting Assistant II, Department of Anesthesiology
- Peppar Cyr, MPhil, MD/PhD Candidate, Neonatal Development Research (WUNDER) Lab
- Chris Stone, EdD, Director, WashU’s Office of Disability Resources
- Robyn Rosenberger, Founder & CEO at TinySuperheroes
Check back soon for a complete list of panelists.
Keynote #2: Visual Humanity and Representation in Healthcare
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
Rick Guidotti, an award-winning photographer, has spent more than twenty-five years collaborating internationally with nonprofit organizations, hospitals, medical schools, educational institutions, museums, galleries, advocacy groups, and communities to effect a sea-change in societal attitudes towards individuals living with genetic, physical, behavioral, or intellectual difference; his work has been published in newspapers, magazines and journals as diverse as Elle, GQ, People, the American Journal of Medical Genetics, The Lancet, Spirituality and Health, the Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly and LIFE Magazine.
Rick is the founder and director of POSITIVE EXPOSURE, a non-profit organization that promotes a more inclusive world through award-winning photography, film, and educational programs. POSITIVE EXPOSURE has significantly impacted the field of human rights, mental health, medicine, and education by providing new opportunities to see each individual as a human being and valued member of our society.
In June 1998, Guidotti’s work was featured in LIFE Magazine’s cover story entitled, Redefining Beauty. In collaboration with the Genetic Alliance and the National Human Genome Research Institute, Rick Guidotti premiered a photographic exhibition for the People’s Genome Celebration at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History in 2001. Since then, he has continued to develop exhibitions, lectures, workshops, educational programs, and initiatives around the globe.
In 2019, Rick and his team opened their new Headquarters in East Harlem on New York City’s Museum Mile that embraces individuals at risk of stigma and exclusion and serves as a central hub for showcasing the work of visual, performing, literary, and multi-sensory artists as well as providing educational, cultural, and artist-in-residency programming.
Rick remains committed to collaborating with individuals, families, and communities around the world, celebrating the beauty and richness of our shared humanity.
Event Registration
Please register each attendee separately.