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On March 1, the world will be observing Disability Day of Mourning, a commemoration of people with disabilities who have been murdered by their caregivers. Vigils will be held internationally, and Syracuse University will be participating by holding an event in Bird Library, room 114.

The event will take place from 7-8:15 p.m. and will feature Samuel Levine as the keynote speaker.

Aside from being a professor of criminal law and legal ethics at Touro Law School in Long Island, New York, Levine has a strong interest in disability rights and inclusion. It was through this interest that he became connected with various disability rights centers in Syracuse.

“Disability Day of Mourning has been an attempt to really recognize that talking about disabilities does not mean just talking about civil rights and basic notions of inclusion,” Levine said. “But talking about individuals who, as a result of their connection with their disability and the way that society treats them, have suffered real and unfortunate tragedies.”

“Syracuse University has a rich history of disability scholarship and advocacy, and innovative inclusion of the disabled,” William Myhill, Interim ADA/503/504 Coordinator at SU, said. “The recognition of the Disability Day of Mourning carries forward these traditions and practices of inclusion.”

The presentation that Levine will give at the event is called “Criminalizing Disability.” Levine said the title encompasses the ways society treats people with disabilities as if they are somehow at fault, and how this false perception plays itself out in the criminal justice system.

He added that he’s excited to be combining his interests in criminal law and criminal justice.

“We see people with disabilities set up for failure by not being given access to quality education that should be guaranteed under the law,” Levine said. “So, of course, it is going to make it much more difficult for them to avoid crime and subsequent tragic events.”

While laws can accomplish some of the job in creating a more inclusive community, Levine said, it is up to the individual members of society to continue to advocate for those who may not be able to do so for themselves, especially when it comes to representation in the media. All it takes is a shift in mindset and a desire to help, he added.

As someone who has been working in the field for years, Levine also said that the most impactful thing that people can do to raise awareness for Disability Day of Mourning is to recognize how close they are to someone with a disability.

“People don’t often realize that the degree of separation between them and someone with a disability is very small,” Levine said. “It is that personal connection that makes the biggest difference.”

The professor recognized and appreciated the effect that the faculty, staff and students at SU can have on promoting Disability Day of Mourning. Through this event, the community will gather to open people’s eyes to the proximity of our connections to this issue. Coming together to develop a new understanding is both the biggest barrier and the most promising goal for Syracuse, he said.

Myhill said the goal of SU’s event is to help the community realize they may have false preconceived notions about people with disabilities.

“The event will aim to bring to light the ableist views that disabled lives are less valued than non-disabled lives,” Myhill said.

Kate Pollack, program coordinator at SU’s Disability Cultural Center, is leading the organization of the event. Her job allows her to inform students and parents about disability resources on and off campus.

She also arranges for speakers from the disability community to come in to talk about disability culture, rights and issues at the DCC Speaker Series that is held every fall. She is finishing up a master’s in forensic science, a path that she said has allowed her to study disability and criminal law.

“There is a misconception that disabled people, especially those who are autistic, commit more crimes,” Pollack said. “The opposite is true.”

Pollack encourages students to ask questions and engage in conversation during and following Levine’s presentation.

“SU students can learn about this day, learn about the issues associated with it and incorporate it into their scholarship,” she said. “This is an area of study that is not discussed enough, and more awareness needs to be raised. All areas of education can benefit from disability studies.”

Published on February 28, 2022 at 9:26 pm