"This is My Story" is a production designed to present first-hand stories of challenges and triumphs from Carleton students with hidden and/or visible disabilities. The SWAs organize the event with the help of Anne Lamppa, the Director of Disabilities Services for Students. 

This year, the event will be held on Thursday, November 5th in the Great Hall. Beginning at 4:30pm, refreshments will be served and a variety of media will be shown to demonstrate the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Stories will be read starting at 5pm. Everyone in the Carleton and Northfield communities are invited to attend.

The SWAs are hoping that many students will be willing to share their stories this year. To submit your story, you can choose one of the options listed below. Keep in mind that regardless of whether you choose to submit anonymously, you are not required to read your own story at the event. We will have people willing to read your story if you choose not to do so. Also, whoever reads your story (you or another reader) should be able to read the entire story in 3-5 minutes; please tailor your story to fit in that time limit. Submissions are due October 20, 2009.

Regardless of how you choose to submit your story, please include a) your decision on remaining anonymous; b) whether or not you want to read your own story at the event; and c) if you will allow us to publish your story (see below).

To submit a story anonymously:

• Send a copy of your story via Campus Mail to: The Wellness Center, Attn: Anne Lamppa. To send mail via campus mail, write "CM" where a stamp would normally go.
• Use the online form. Make sure you are logged out.
• Print a copy of your story and send it via campus mail to Box 1958, the SWA Mailbox.

To submit a story and not be anonymous:

• Email a copy of your story to Samantha Peterson (petersos). She is collecting all of the stories that will be used during the event. 
• Talk to Anne Lamppa (alamppa), one of the counselors at TWC, or your SWA about submitting a story.
• Use the online form. Make sure you are logged in.
• Print a copy of your story and send it via campus mail to Box 1958, the SWA Mailbox.

Note: Because we want to present as many stories as possible, we reserve the right to edit stories for length.

After the event is over, we would like to compile all of the stories and publish them in a small booklet. The idea is based on the "When I Knew..." booklet published by the Gender and Sexuality Center on campus. If you are submitting a story, please consider allowing us to publish your story in the booklet. We can, of course, change whether or not you are anonymous in the booklet. If you would like to publish your story only in the booklet, that's fine too! Chloe Coenen (Hall Director and SWA Supervisor) will be working on the publications; contact her (ccoenen) if you have any questions.