Paralympic athlete Dalton Herendeen will share his story of perseverance to kick off the University of Mary Washington’s inaugural Disability Awareness Month this October. His public lecture at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Dodd Auditorium of George Washington Hall will be among a series of events designed to bring awareness to numerous individuals who have disabilities.
An assistant coach for UMW’s swimming and diving team, Herendeen represents the United States in the U.S. Paralympic swim team, and is currently training for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2012, he swam in the London Paralympics and this past summer, he broke the American record in the 100-meter breaststroke during the International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships.
Herendeen’s left leg was amputated at birth due to a blood clot. After various surgeries in elementary school, Herendeen learned to walk independently with a prosthetic. He later swam in middle and high school, first attending a Paralympic meeting in his freshman year in high school.
Swimming during middle and high school became a turning point for Herendeen. Having experienced physical and social hardships due to his leg, Herendeen hopes his story will encourage students and faculty to reach beyond their disabilities.
“We view different [disabilities] in different ways,” said Herendeen, who started coaching at UMW this fall. “I just struggle with walking.”
According to Sandra Fritton, director of the Office of Disability Resources, the month is meant to focus on individuals and communities with disabilities, but who are not defined by them.
“Everyone has strengths and weaknesses,” said Fritton. “It’s how we work to build on strengths and develop strategies to support our perceived weaknesses that matters. Engaging the person and not the perceived disability is the important thing.”
Additional events during Disability Awareness Month include:
- American Sign Language Workshop, Friday, Oct. 2 at 2:30 p.m. in the Hurley Convergence Center, Room 307
- “Autistic People Speaking,” Monday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the Hurley Convergence Center Digital Auditorium
- Braille Workshop, Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 4-6 p.m. on Ball Circle
- Nosferatu Silent Film Viewing, Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 139
The month’s events are sponsored by the Office of Disability Resources, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the UMW groups DiversAbility and Talk to the Hands.
For more information about Disability Awareness Month, call 540-654-1266.