Disability and diversity speaker Christina Irene will visit PennWest University’s three campuses to present “Disability and Sexual Assault: Advancing Awareness, Strengthening Safety.” Irene will speak from 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 15 in California’s Convocation Center, Sept. 16 in Edinboro’s Frank G. Pogue Student Center multi-purpose room, and Sept. 18 in Clarion’s Walter L. Hart Chapel. The presentations are free and open to all.

As a starting point for discussing sexual assault and gender-based violence against people with disabilities, the program will explore how disability – both visible and invisible – shapes people's experiences and identities. Irene will explore the harms of othering – the act of magnifying differences among people and groups – and the role of imposter syndrome, both within disability itself and in relation to gender violence and mental or emotional abuse. With guidance on recognizing signs, creating safe spaces and adopting prevention strategies, the audience will gain deeper awareness and clear connections to campus and community resources.

Using a lived-experience approach, Irene invented the Splat system of communication; Splat refers to a person’s feeling of being run over every day, but by different vehicles on different days. Her book series includes: “Talking Splat: Communicating About Hidden Disabilities,” “Splatvocate: Supporting People With Hidden Disabilities,” and “Splactivity Book: Self-Care and Carefree Distractions for Adults with Hidden Disabilities.”

Her past careers include teaching high school English and theater and performing stand-up comedy nationally. She lives with physical, cognitive and mental health disabilities.

The program is sponsored by an It’s On Us grant and PennWest Office of Compliance and Title IX. For more information about Irene, visit www.christinairene.com.