Spotlight Member of the Month
David Fitzgerald
- What is your role in CDA?
- My participation began in the early 1990s. Joining CDA was a way for me to partner with people with a special interest in students with disabilities. My hope was always to improve access and service to students who might otherwise overlook career services being offered.
- As part of the services my office hosted the US Department of Labor’s annual recruiting trip to UI for the Workforce Recruitment Program for college students and graduates who self-identified as having a disability. CDA members were helpful in promoting the WRP on our campus.
- I served CDA as Chair and Co-Chair for several years and worked on committees at various times.
- My participation began in the early 1990s. Joining CDA was a way for me to partner with people with a special interest in students with disabilities. My hope was always to improve access and service to students who might otherwise overlook career services being offered.
- What is your favorite thing about CDA?
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The passion and strength of the commitment to the mission that I felt from the members of CDA was very engaging. The organization had been involved for years to level the playing field and in very basic ways make the community welcoming to people with difference. I believed this was one area to be a part of the movement to increase diversity at Iowa.
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- What is your position on campus?
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In 1987 I began working at the UI as a cooperative education/internship coordinator and over the subsequent 25 years held various roles in the University’s efforts to assist students with career decision making and finding internships and full time employment. I was also the Director of the UI Washington Center Internship Program which helped many students have internships in the Nation’s capital.
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- What is your disability or condition, if any, if you are comfortable sharing?
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My left leg is 3 inches shorter than the right and that knee has limited movement. This was at age 11 and the result of an injury from playing football on a junior high team. At the time of my injury complications led to multiple surgeries, 10 months in a body cast confining me to a hospital bed and several years of using crutches. The experiences of those early years did raise my awareness of barriers in our environment. I believe institutions communities need to be committed to inclusion and welcome to all people.
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- What is your educational background?
- BS in Landscape Architecture, Iowa State University
- MS in Counseling, The University of Iowa
- What advice would you give to a colleague on campus who has a (DIS)ability?
- Don’t let the barriers in our environment stop you. Ask, ask, and then ask again as you go. There are many people on campus and in the community who work for and want to create a more welcoming place for everyone. The culture of the campus needs to change and that is big. Until that change is more complete it is essential that you are an advocate for yourself, identifying and requesting what you need, and if time allows, join your interest with the growing call of CDA and keep the culture change happening.
- Don’t let the barriers in our environment stop you. Ask, ask, and then ask again as you go. There are many people on campus and in the community who work for and want to create a more welcoming place for everyone. The culture of the campus needs to change and that is big. Until that change is more complete it is essential that you are an advocate for yourself, identifying and requesting what you need, and if time allows, join your interest with the growing call of CDA and keep the culture change happening.
- What advice would you give to a student on campus who has a (DIS)ability?
- In addition to my answer above I believe students can keep that change that is happening current. As one barrier is removed sometimes new ones are created, as technology changes access changes. As you run into barriers let people know and add your creative problem solving skill to the efforts going on to change our culture.
- In addition to my answer above I believe students can keep that change that is happening current. As one barrier is removed sometimes new ones are created, as technology changes access changes. As you run into barriers let people know and add your creative problem solving skill to the efforts going on to change our culture.
- Where is your favorite place to eat in town?
- Iowa City makes this a difficult question to answer. In part it is difficult because there are so many good places and in part because restaurant transitions make it somewhat of a moving target. Atlas Grill is probably my current favorite. It has great tasting food, beautifully presented, welcoming and accommodating staff, the restaurant is locally owned, and it is downtown. The Orange Blossom Café has joined my list of other favorites including Monica’s and MeKong.
- Iowa City makes this a difficult question to answer. In part it is difficult because there are so many good places and in part because restaurant transitions make it somewhat of a moving target. Atlas Grill is probably my current favorite. It has great tasting food, beautifully presented, welcoming and accommodating staff, the restaurant is locally owned, and it is downtown. The Orange Blossom Café has joined my list of other favorites including Monica’s and MeKong.
- What is your favorite activity to do at UI?
- Watching the physical campus change and new things getting built is one of my fascinations with the UI. With all the changes for the arts facilities coming soon there will be much to watch. The other thing I really enjoy about campus to meeting people from many different places and backgrounds. Within the larger IC community I enjoy the productions of Riverside Theatre and the Iowa City Arts Festival.
- Watching the physical campus change and new things getting built is one of my fascinations with the UI. With all the changes for the arts facilities coming soon there will be much to watch. The other thing I really enjoy about campus to meeting people from many different places and backgrounds. Within the larger IC community I enjoy the productions of Riverside Theatre and the Iowa City Arts Festival.
- What best disability-related practices or changes do you recommend to better our campus?
- Incorporating universal design in building facilities and developing new teaching strategies.
Get to Know Other Members of the Month!
- Carly Armour, Student Disability Advisor, SDS
- Bob Harding, Utility Systems Specialist, UI Power Plant
- Teresa Kout, Participant Services Coordinator in Study Abroad, UI International Programs
- Kathy Ford, Administrative Coordinator & Assistant to the Chair in the School of Music
- Mike Hoenig, Program Coordinator at the Center for Disabilities and Development
- Brian Manternach, Facilities Accessibility Coordinator, Facilities Management – Building & Landscape Services
- Mark Harris, Director, Student Disability Services
- Keith Ruff, Community Social and Educational Advocate, Access 2 Independence
- Tiffini Stevenson Earl, Compliance Specialist and ADA Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity
- Peter Gerhard, Academic Advisor, Academic Advising Center
- David Fitzgerald, Retired from Career Pomerantz Center
- Rachel Gatewood, Campus Collaboration Specialist, Center for Diversity & Enrichment
- John Mikelson, Coordinator, Veterans Center
- Jan Gorman, Director, Faculty and Staff Disability Services
Stay tuned for future Members of the Month!