Infographic by Ca’ren Franklin – Digital & Multimedia Editor

“Even if it’s something that you’ve never been interested in before and know anything about, I would really encourage [students] to come and see,” Blanck said. “I think a lot of people have an image in their mind of what disability looks like, but it’s really broad and there’s a huge spectrum and it can present itself in so many different ways.”

The Disability Advocacy Student Association, a new club at California Lutheran University, is currently in the process of getting approved. The association aims to welcome and cultivate a space for students with disabilities and disability allies.

Emma Blanck, junior and DASA president, said DASA is a space where students with disabilities and allies can make a community and build connections on campus.

“Even if it’s something that you’ve never been interested in before and know anything about, I would really encourage [students] to come and see,” Blanck said. “I think a lot of people have an image in their mind of what disability looks like, but it’s really broad and there’s a huge spectrum and it can present itself in so many different ways.”

Joining her as the DASA vice president is junior Luis Perez Jr., who originally met Blanck back at Moorpark College. 

Blanck and Perez Jr. were involved with the Delta Alpha Pi club at Moorpark College, which is an honors society for students with disabilities. 

“While there’s a lot of cool clubs on campus, I noticed there wasn’t one specifically about honoring different disabilities and the diversity that comes along with that,” Perez Jr. said.

As graduating seniors from Moorpark College set to transfer to California Lutheran University, Blanck reached out to Perez Jr. about starting a club to create a community open to individuals of all abilities but allies as well.

“Well I really hope it can, for students with disabilities, show them that there’s probably a lot more of us on campus than they realize,” Blanck said. “There’s a big community here that we can all support each other. And for allies, like showing ways of advocating or supporting the community.”

Blanck and Perez Jr. had started the process of getting the club together at the beginning of the 2024 spring semester. Perez Jr. said he was active in recruiting the remaining board members and interested members to start building the club.

Sophomore Ryan Byrne said he was asked by Perez Jr. about joining the club in the first week of the semester. Byrne accepted Perez Jr.’s offer on the same day and joined the board as treasurer for DASA.

“The reason I said yes mostly was because I wanted to make a more positive impact but also I had hearing aids,” Byrne said. “Here there’s DSS and they do a very good job, but I feel like there’s still things that can be done. So by having this club to advocate for those changes but also to bring awareness to the fact that they exist was of vital importance.”

When addressing accommodation in the general world, Byrne said that accessibility is not always available to those who are hard of hearing such as on TVs in airlines and even in university classes. 

“I can also count on multiple hands the amount of times professors have shown videos in class that did not have closed captioning available,” Byrne said. “Either because the original media didn’t have captioning or because they tried to do something and it didn’t work, or there are sometimes rollbacks that a company would put in place that will make it so that you can’t put the caption up.”

Byrne said making these accessibility problems known is another factor in the advocacy for those with disabilities and listening to those searching for access is something that he hopes can be accomplished with DASA.

“It’s going to take more than just people who are disabled, because if it’s just people who are disabled, then maybe that would indicate to people who can make decisions that, ‘hey this is just a niche issue,’” Byrne said. “But if you can get people involved that are not disabled, then it would bring a better and bigger awareness to the fact of what is going on.”

While advocating for the members of the disability community, the members of DASA mentioned some ideas that they would like to incorporate once the club is approved.

Perez Jr. said he would like to introduce, address and debunk myths and stereotypes that are often associated with individuals with disabilities. He said not all disabilities look the same or are visible but that all should be acknowledged and embraced.

Blanck said some ideas she has in mind for the club consist of having a space where individuals can share one’s experiences and talk about different resources that have been helpful to them. She said she hopes to create resources to make scholarships or similar programs more easily accessible to those who may be in need.

As for events, Blanck said she would want to host a movie night showcasing characters with disabilities that portray the experiences of those with disabilities well on screen. Another idea by Blanck is to play a game of goalball, a Paralympic sport exclusively played by athletes with visual impairments.

Though the club is not affiliated with DSS or any other school services, DASA and DSS have shared that they would like to collaborate with one another for upcoming events.

Wendy Jimenez, director of disability support services, said that DSS is “very excited about the Disability Advocacy Student Association as it will be a great resource for students on campus to not only bring awareness to disability and the importance of accessibility, but will hopefully create a sense of community on campus for students with disabilities (and others) to get to know each other, speak of important topics and just have fun.”

She said students with disabilities on campus have wanted a space to meet and connect and she thinks DASA will be a much-needed place for students to do so.

While the DASA is still waiting on club approval from Student Life; Blanck, Perez Jr., and Byrne shared their willingness to welcome students of all abilities.