Shawnee State University has a diverse student body filled with people of all ages, sexualities, races and abilities. Surprisingly, however, students with accessibility needs only received recognition in 1973, namely with the addition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed shockingly recently, in 1990. This means that colleges have only been required to offer accessibility resources for just over 50 years. Shawnee offers incredible help for accessibility needs through the Accessibility Services office and through accessibility-friendly ramps, automatic doors and elevators. One thing that Shawnee has not had until now is a student organization for those with disabilities to be part of a community of people who share their experiences. This all changed recently with the creation of a new club, the Inclusion Network.
The Inclusion Network, established by Khloe Tussey, is a new club on Shawnee’s campus designed to bring together students living with disabilities or accessibility needs. Tussey said she was inspired to start this club due to her experience at her previous school.
“At my last college, I was the president of a club called the Disabled Artist Collective,” she explained. “I worked with students that may have struggled with accessibility and feeling included and wanted to give them a space to socialize, and participate without worry. When I came to Shawnee, I realized our campus did not have a club similar to that and wanted to bring that opportunity here.”
Tussey is an art education major who has settled at Shawnee after previously living in Zanesville and Columbus. She has worked in childcare for four years and is currently employed at a special education preschool. After college, Tussey hopes to become a middle school art teacher.
Tussey expressed her desire to create a welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, through the Inclusion Network. She also voiced a desire to work with other clubs on campus to bring awareness to the Inclusion Network and to have accessible options to events that normally may not be as accessible to some.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to join the Inclusion Network.
“Some may think in order to join our club you have to have some kind of accessibility need, and that is not true,” Tussey said. “We want everyone to be included and participate!”
Currently, the club meets every other Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m., usually in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. There are some events planned for the future, including DIY sensory bins, homework assistance nights and a Mario Kart tournament fundraiser.
Students interested in joining the Inclusion Network or learning more about the club and its events may contact Khloe Tussey at tusseyk2@mymail.shawnee.edu. Flyers around campus also provide dates, times, information about upcoming events and a QR code that leads to the Inclusion Network’s Discord server. Thursday, Nov. 6, the Inclusion Network will be holding a Homework Night in room 202 of the Vern Riffe Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Students can bring in work they are struggling with to get help and listen to music as they complete their assignments.
