Dr. Graham Sisson speaks with students from UNA before the start of Camp Rocks

On Monday, students from the University of North Alabama arrived for a week of Camp Rocks sponsored by the Hall Foundation. The students are a part of the Recreation for Special Populations class at UNA, and each year, a new group arrives to volunteer for the week serving children and adults with disabilities. The goal is for them to also put into action the many things they have learned over a semester in the recreation class.

Monday afternoon, the students heard from Camp ASCCA Program Director Amber Cotney who spoke with them about what the week would look like, and she explained to them a little more about the variety of people we serve throughout the year and how camp is adapted for anyone who comes through the ASCCA gates. Camp Rocks is a great opportunity for them to get experience with people with disabilities at a variety of ages.

Before the buses arrived, Tuesday morning came with a special presentation from Dr. Graham Sisson, the Executive Director at the Governor’s Office on Disability (GOOD). He is also the ADA Coordinator for the State of Alabama and even an alumnus of the University of North Alabama. He graduated from UNA in 1987 and later graduated from the Vanderbilt Law School in 1990. He has been a licensed attorney for over 28 years, and he also recently graduated from Auburn University with a PhD in Rehabilitation, Counseling, and Leadership.

During his time with the UNA students, Dr. Sisson spoke with the students about his experience in 1982 when he became a person with a disability after being injured in a head-on vehicle collision that paralyzed him below the waist. He shares with them his experiences of being in a coma, having to go through back surgery and the therapy that followed. Dr. Sisson has used a wheelchair for more than 30 years and often speaks about how the accident has impacted his story and how he did not let anything get in the way of what he dreamed of because the “sky’s the limit.” He also talks with the students about the Americans with Disabilities Act and the importance of people first language. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Sisson shares pictures from his high school days before the accident and many events he has experienced since. One of those events being the first person with a disability to take a ride on the ASCCA Zip Tower. It is an unforgettable memory, and we are making plans to have him take a ride on the new LPR Zipline that traverses across the pond.

We are thankful for the opportunities when we get to spend time and learn from Dr. Sisson and look forward to future visits with him! Next up, the students will take the concepts they have learned in class and the lessons they picked up from Dr. Sisson and apply them as the participants from Alabama and Florida arrive this afternoon.

You can visit our Flickr page here to keep up with everything happening this week.