Advocate. Student Affairs Educator. Motivational Speaker.
Christina Papaleo
Beyond the Blind Side
It all started with a story . . .
And then it became an opportunity . . .
When I decided to go public with my story... 2014 Interview with The Utica Phoenix (copy and paste link to access full article): http://uticaphoenix.net/beyond-blind-side-local-advocate-christina-papaleo/
The story then became a seed I planted at SUNY Cortland . . .
The campus' first disability inclusion training program
SUNY Cortland Multicultural Life and Diversity Office “Re-thinking Abilities” training (started October 2014)
Sticker distributed at trainings with original Beyond the Blind Side logo designed by me:
Original Program Proposal (click on icon to access):
Original PowerPoint Presentation (click on icon to access):
After I graduated in May 2014, the program name was changed to "Re-Thinking Abilities," so that I could keep "Beyond the Blind Side. The Multicultural Life and Diversity Office at SUNY Cortland still continues this training each semester.
The mission of Re-Thinking Abilities is to educate and identify allies who promise to advocate and support all students of different abilities, so that all individuals have an equal opportunity to be successful.
It’s not about what “has” to be done, but rather what “should” be done: Equality vs. Equity
By training individuals to have their office/work space be considered as an “inclusive space,” we hope to provide students with varying abilities spaces where they feel welcome and supported.
I continued pursuing a motivational speaking path during my last semester at Cortland and upon graduating. . .
Past Speaking Engagements:
-
February 22, 2014 - SUNY Cortland Residence Life and Housing Conference - Cortland, NY
-
April 12, 2014 - SUNY Cortland Student Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice - Cortland, NY
-
June 2, 2014 - Mohawk Valley Community College - Utica, NY - Special Education graduate class.
-
October 24-25, 2014 - SUNY Cortland - Cortland, NY - Residence Life and Housing On-Going Training and Beyond the Blind Side Training Program Launch
-
April 6, 2015 - Thomas R. Proctor High School - Utica, NY - BOCES Health Education Class
-
August 19, 2015 - Medaille College - Buffalo, NY - Medaille Residence Life Resident Assistant Training Session
-
November 14, 2015 - The College at Brockport, State University of New York - Brockport, NY - 33rd Annual Resident Assistant Conference, "Pursue Something Greater"
-
February 20, 2016 - SUNY Cortland Residence Life and Housing Conference - Cortland, NY
The Future for Beyond the Blind Side
-
Research Project - assessing the impact in identifying weakness and how it influences a more transformative experience for college students of all abilities. I intend on completing a qualitative research study, specifically examining how students perceive weakness, and common themes to how these perceptions emerge.
-
Speaking - Continuing to present at institutions and conferences, specifically for higher education (i.e. CSPA-NYS and NASPA)
-
Program Development - Creating a practical resource tool to develop self-advocates in the field of student affairs - identifying your blind side will serve as framework for student affairs educators and higher education administrators challenges individuals to choose imperfection over ignorance.
-
Publications - I have been told several times that I will write a book one day, and I have it down as one of my long-term goals.
Other ways I use my blind side in my personal and professional life. . .
