To honor the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the UT Southwestern community is invited to come together to celebrate the uniqueness of every individual. 

The celebration will focus on autism and invisible disabilities, which impact millions of people around the world, as increased awareness and understanding of these conditions can foster a more inclusive and supportive society. 

The event will begin with a light lunch reception at 11:30 a.m. on July 16 catered by Hugs Café, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. The celebration will follow at noon with a keynote address by Maria Chahrour, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development. Dr. Chahrour’s research focuses on understanding autism spectrum disorder  and related neurodevelopmental conditions. 

There will also be a presentation and artwork display by Creation Studio, an art studio and gallery for adults with disabilities. The group’s mission is to empower adults with disabilities to become working artists and share their artwork with the community. Art postcards and stickers from Creation Studio will also be available for attendees while supplies last. 

• When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday, July 16 

• Where: D1.502 on South Campus 

• Livestream: UT Southwestern’s YouTube channel 

• Parking and transportation: Campus shuttle services will be increased at the time of this event and the gates at Staff Garage 2 on South Campus will be open. 

Hosted by the Office for Institutional Opportunity

Registration is required.