to speak at URI on Nov. 7
KINGSTON, R.I. — Oct. 25, 2001 — Kate McCarthy-Barnett, Ed.D., writer of the Providence Journal Bulletin’s disABILITY column and advocate for people with disabilities will speak at the University of Rhode Island on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Her talk is the 7th Annual Eleanor M. and Oscar M. Carlson Endowed Lecture in Women’s Studies.
The lecture, “Experience the Journey: Advocacy to Action for Women with Disabilities” will be held in Room 113 of White Hall of URI’s Kingston campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.
McCarthy-Barnett’s disABILITY column addresses the issues of disability by enlightening individuals to the abilities of all people. Most recently, she established Disability Disaster Relief, a program to assist people with disabilities in New York City whose lives have been impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Her dedication to women’s disabilities have led her to research breast health access and to help in the initiation of the Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition ACCESS for Women with Disabilities Program.
Her activities also include an appointment as a member of the U.S. President’s Communications Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities. She also served as the Rhode Island Representative to the Voices of Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C. She sits on the boards of directors for the Ocean State Center for Independent Living, the TechACCESS Center of R.I. and the R.I. Breast Cancer Coalition. She is a member of the R.I. Disability Business Enterprise Committee and serves on the Legislative Committee for the R.I. Governors Commission on Disabilities. She is also a member of the Rhode Island Department of Health Disability Advisory Committee.
McCarthy-Barnett, a resident of Coventry, received the People Actively Reaching Independence Jack Kempf Special Merit Award for her leadership in the Independent Living Movement, the Media Award from the National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island Chapter for raising the social consciousness of the needs of the underserved and was recognized as a Honorary Buddy by the Down Syndrome Society’s for her commitment to education of the rights of people with disabilities. The Rhode Island Association for the Deaf also honored her for “educating and raising awareness of deafness and deaf persons to the community.”
In addition to her column, McCarthy Barnett is also an on-line instructor for UNEXT.com teaching courses for the University of Chicago and Columbia University Masters of Business Administration degree programs.
McCarthy-Barnett earned her doctorate of education in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University and her master of science and bachelor of science degrees from URI.
The lecture is sponsored by the University of Rhode Island Women’s Studies Program. Access is provided for persons with disabilities. If you require special accommodations, please call 874-5150 three days in advance.
For Information: Jan Wenzel, 401-874-2116, Sarah Emmett, 401-874-2116