STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities Hosted by Museum of Natural Sciences Oct. 14

This free event is designed for students with disabilities in grades 6-12 and gives attendees a chance to meet and be inspired by role models with disabilities who have thriving careers in STEAM fields. The STEAM Showcase features a Keynote Presentation, Opportunity Fair and Breakout Sessions, where participants can engage directly with the speakers and gain practical knowledge that they can apply to their interests and future career paths.

For more information or to register, visit naturalsciences.org/steam (registration is free but required). For additional questions, contact Coordinator of Accessibility Samantha Frigerio ([email protected] / 919-707-9824).

Keynote Presenter

• Em Kibler, Communications & Compliance Director at Alliance of Disability Advocates. As a disability advocate, writer and multidisciplinary artist based in Durham, Kibler's work is rooted in advocacy and the power of authentic storytelling. At ADA, Kibler helps elevate the disability justice movement via education and empowerment, ensuring all members of the disability community are given the freedom to write their own stories.

Speakers

• Ted Buckner, Senior Technical Writer at SAS. Carving out a career with a Triangle-based world leader in analytics, Buckner will discuss how he's lived with progressive neuropathy, while also becoming an avid cyclist, race organizer and musician.
• Bryan Rusch, PhD Candidate in Art History at Duke University. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Rusch studied mechanical engineering and surgical tool design and is currently completing a PhD focused on North Carolina's medical history.
• Lacey Roy, Neurosociology Student at UNC Chapel Hill. Struggling in school before being diagnosed with Audiological Processing Disorder and gaining accessibility tools, Roy now studies at a top-tier institution. Her research examines how culture affects whether a dream/goal is considered possible or not.

ASL interpretation and live captions will be provided for the Welcome, Keynote Presentation and Breakout Sessions. Registration is required for this event. For those unable to join us in person, the Welcome and Keynote Presentation will be livestreamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/live/WtXRt-sVfxk).

This year's STEAM Showcase is sponsored by SAVVAS Learning Company with additional support from SAS, Lenovo and Bresler Family.

About the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world. In addition to two downtown buildings showcasing seven floors of world-class exhibits, the Museum runs Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as satellite facilities in Whiteville, Greenville and Grifton (Contentnea Creek). Our mission is to illuminate the natural world and inspire its conservation. Downtown Raleigh Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit https://www.naturalsciences.org.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.