This presentation will highlight the profound benefits of producing a video series, by students, on a sensitive subject at Humboldt State University. It will also cover the empowerment, communication and collaboration skills gained while learning video production techniques. It will highlight, Student Experience and Success, Accessibility and Collaboration and Partnerships.

The purpose of the project was to help raise awareness and encourage faculty, staff and students to make their documents accessible to all students through Universal Design at HSU, remove obstacles and support innovation to increase student success and to learn how to better engage on many levels with those living with disabilities.

We first called this series “One in Ten” which built on a campaign our Student Disability Resource Center had created to raise awareness that 1 in 10 students at HSU was living with a disability. The following semester we changed the name to “10 Plus,” as we had discovered that more than 1 in 10 at HSU are living with a disability.

This video series was also created in hopes of raising the bar of student retention and insuring that all students are afforded equal opportunities to succeed in meeting their baccalaureate goals through a Humboldt State experience.

An additional outcome of producing these videos, was it provided a multi-level approach by engaging students in the entire process, and allowed them an immersive, hands-on opportunity to earn money, while learning all the facets of video production, in a collaborative environment, all while gaining a deeper understanding towards students living with disabilities.

These videos are currently housed on the Student Disability Resource Centers’ website https://disability.humboldt.edu/ and add one more level of work that students can share with prospective employers.

Four videos of eight that were created, will be shown at the presentation, totaling around 20 minutes. The rest of the talk will discuss the process, from receiving a California Lottery Grant and GI 20205 money, to training my student employees on all aspects of the production process and finishing this within one semester.

The following are what students have shared after working on this project:

“Learning how to communicate with others and making them feel comfortable with a sensitive subject”
“Producing is not as easy as it looks”
“Networking”
“Appreciated promoting something valuable to the school”
“Opened her eyes and awareness of disabilities and hidden disabilities on Campus”
“Learned how to communicate with a brother who has ADHD”
“Wants to become an attorney to advocate for those living with disabilities.”