Two master’s students from the School of Education were featured in local Syracuse news stories about their disability journeys and their work to create disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Haley Evans, a master’s student in inclusive special education, was featured on CNYCentral’s “Stuttering Association Syracuse members ‘hopeful’ for awareness from President-elect” along with David Haas, president of the National Stuttering Association’s Syracuse chapter. Evans and Haas reacted to the election of Joe Biden as the next president of the United States; Biden has spoken in the past about managing and “overcoming” his childhood stutter.
“Disabilities should not hold [stutterers] back,” Evans said. “They can be great leaders. Just to teach all the world to be patient because if you have something important to say, then people will be patient and they will listen to you.”
Haley Michlitsch, a master’s student in clinical mental health counseling, talked with Spectrum News about Addison’s disease and how her service dog, Addy, has helped her. “For Syracuse Student, Rare Addison’s Disease Brings Challenges — But Special Dog Watches Over Her” shows how Michlitsch and Addy work together to manage her cortisol levels.
“It’s just given me a new sense of life and kind of helped me realize that I have someone that can protect over me even though, It’s not a person it’s a dog. They are able to sense so much more and help me stay as safe as I can,” said Michlitsch.