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By Ariana Assaf, Daily Staff Reporter http://www.michigandaily.com/article/pi-kappa-phi-philanthropy-event Events involving Pizza House are always enticing, but speakers at Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy event also offered food for thought. On Saturday, the University's chapter of Pi Kappa Phi hosted a dinner event that featured University students affected by a variety of disabilities. Disability awareness is the fraternity's main philanthropic focus. In past years, members have participated in disability simulations, using blindfolds and earplugs to get an idea of what having a disability is like. But LSA sophomore Nicholas Guys, who was elected as the fraternity’s philanthropy chairman last November, decided that dialogue with other students living with disabilities would be more meaningful than simulation. He worked with Carole Dubritsky, assistant director of the Office of Institutional Equity, to understand how to best educate participants about disabilities. Dubritsky also serves as the University's American with Disabilities Act coordinator and advises Allies for Disability Awareness, a student group on campus. Social Work student Rebecca Parten said she was excited to attend the event. Parten was born with a rare form of arthrogryposis called escobar syndrome. It is a congenital disease that only allows parts of messages from the brain to reach muscles, causing limited joint contractions, scoliosis and some breathing issues. Over dinner, Parten shared with her table that she wants to find a job in macro social work, engaging in community organizing rather than just with individuals. When she’s not busy with classes, she helps out at MStars, an organization on campus that raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. “When I was little, about six or seven, I got my wish granted to go to Disney World,” Parten said. The experience made her want to give back to the program. Jack Bernard, the University's associate general counsel and chair of the council for disability concerns, gave a speech about the acceptance and inclusion of those with disabilities into the larger society. “The challenge of disability is not being able to have access to everything, and we (only) make adjustments for the norm,” Bernard said. He commended the members of the fraternity for taking interest in the issue of disabilities, including installing a ramp and a handicap-accessible bathroom in their house. In addition, Bernard suggested that they reach out to the University's Services for Students with Disabilities office during Greek Life recruitment to recruit disabled students. Social Work and Rackham student Adena Rottenstein, a member of Allies for Disability Awareness, also spoke about the importance of making students feel comfortable registering with the ADA and making society as a whole more accepting of people with disabilities. Out of the 11 percent of disabled students on a given college campus, only two or three percent register with their school’s office for students with disabilities, even though it can get them housing and academic accommodations. “What is disabling students isn’t the environment. It’s the stigma,” Rottenstein said. “I have fibromyalgia, so if I take the stairs up just one flight I’m in pain for about an hour. But if I take the elevator up one floor, I get dirty looks.” Rottenstein also remarked that people on campus need to adjust their day-to-day language in order to be more accepting of disabled individuals. “How often do you hear someone say ‘that’s retarded’ or ‘lame’ or ‘crazy’? This stigma is pervasive and accepted.” She recognized that much of this isn't malicious, but that “the most harmful behaviors on college campus is ignorance.” LSA sophomore Courtney Green has a learning disability that causes a dramatic discrepancy between her actual IQ and test taking scores. Because she is registered with Services for Students with Disabilities, she is allowed extended time on exams, which makes “a huge difference in my studies and allowed me to excel in my classes,” she said. Green lamented the fact that students with disabilities at the University choose to go without such accommodations, but applauded Pi Kappa Phi for taking steps to break down the cultural stigma surrounding disabilities. “It is important to recognize that you will never know what is going on in someone's life,” Green said, “but whether they are struggling with a visible disability or a learning disability, or merely going through a tough time in their life they should be treated with respect and consideration.”