Clemson Celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month with Adam Gorlitsky Keynote

Clemson Celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month with Adam Gorlitsky Keynote

Clemson University is hosting a series of events in October to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), with the theme of "Celebrating All Abilities." The events include a keynote address and 11 virtual sessions.

The keynote speaker is Adam "Legs" Gorlitsky, an athlete and founder of LEGS Medical. He will present "I GOT LEGS: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Exoskeleton" on Monday, October 20th, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Watt Center Auditorium. During his talk, he will also debut a new manual exoskeleton developed in partnership with Clemson University's Biomedical Engineering department.

The university will also host eleven virtual "Let's Break to Educate" events throughout the month. These hour-long sessions will feature presentations by Clemson faculty and staff on various topics related to disability awareness, including:

• Digital accessibility
• Deaf culture
• Neurodiversity
• Effective accommodation practices

These virtual sessions are open to everyone, and a Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

• October 6, 12-1 p.m.: Authoring Like a Pro – Tips and Tricks for MSWord by Walker Massey, CCIT Digital Accessibility Specialist
• October 7, 10-11 a.m.: Creating Impact Through Process by Sarah McAlpine, ClemsonLIFE Advanced Program Employment Instructor
• October 9, 1-2 p.m.: Clemson Facilities: Campus Access 2025 by Channon Chambers, Planning Design and Construction Building Official
• October 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Celebrating All Abilities Event: Tips for Providing More Accessible Instructions/Directions by Michelle Tuten, Accessibility Coordinator
• October 15, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: CheckIT for Access: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Clemson Integrates Accessibility in the Software Review Process by Dan Lewis, Director of Digital Accessibility, Bobby Clark, Director of Vendor Management, IT Solutions, and Dustin Atkins, Senior Director, IT Strategic Operations
• October 16, 2-3 p.m.: Introduction to Deaf Culture by Bo Clements, Section Head, Senior Lecturer of American Sign Language
• October 20, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Adam LEGS Gorlitsky in “I GOT LEGS: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Exoskeleton”
• October 21, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Go for Meaning: The Interpreting Process by Dan Devor, University Lead ASL Interpreter
• October 22, 12-1 p.m.: Clemson Voices: Neurodivergent Staff and Instructors by Tom Beeson, Spectrum Program Manager
• October 23, 12-1 p.m.: How to Have Productive Accommodation Conversations by Tessa Byer, University Ombuds
• October 29, 2-3 p.m.: Expanding Your World: Anyone Can Study Abroad by Margaret Camp, Director of Student Accessibility Services, Allison Chipman, Program Operations Coordinator, and Rachel Roback, Access Coordinator in Student Accessibility Services
• October 30, 2-3 p.m.: Access for All in Real-Time All the Time by Dan Hofmann, Director of Parking and Transportation Services