Join us on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, to celebrate the grand opening of the Acceptance photographic exhibit by Chapman University lecturer Bernie Dickson. This event will be in the Doy and Dee Henley Reading Room on the second floor of the Leatherby Libraries.

Dickson curated Acceptance: A Step to Promote Awareness and Understanding of Autism after being inspired by her family’s experience during social isolation. As the family began adapting to their new routine, they found empathy and connection to one another as their path towards finding a new normal. The family’s acceptance of their new normal mirrored the acceptance of the role of autism in their sons’ lives.

Inspired by the themes in Acceptance, the Leatherby Libraries has organized a panel discussion to promote open dialogue and discussion of autism in society from an academic and lifestyle perspective. Dr. Meghan Cosier, the Executive Director of the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability, will serve as the panel moderator. Bernie Dickson will participate in the panel alongside Dr. Amy Jane Griffiths, an Associate Professor at Chapman University and licensed psychologist, and Stephen Hinkle, a Chapman PhD student and self-advocate. This panel will promote an inclusive conversation that celebrates the values and contributions of neurodivergent individuals worldwide.

The panel discussion will begin at 4 p.m., followed by an opening reception with refreshments. This event is open to the public, and all students, staff, and faculty interested in learning more about autism in society are encouraged to attend. This event is presented by the Leatherby Libraries, the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability, the Attallah College of Educational Studies, the Agryros College of Business and Economics, the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

For more information about this exhibit, check out our blog post about the exhibition, visit the Meet Our Friends website here, or check out the Leatherby Libraries’ copy of Dickson’s photography book Acceptance.

The Leatherby Libraries’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts align with the Chapman University Strategic Plan for Diversity & Inclusion, fostering a diverse and inclusive campus climate.