SIS Student Receives ASCLA Century Scholarship for Disability Advocacy
Building awareness of disabilities took a step forward recently when School of Information Sciences student Sara Lynn Hyder was honored at ALA’s annual conference this summer as the 2003 recipient of the Century Scholarship.
Presented by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), the scholarship is a diversity initiative aimed at promoting ALA’s mission of improving regional library services by engendering diversity awareness in communities. Hyder is a student and graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee’s School of Information Sciences in Knoxville.
The Century Scholarship is a $2,500 monetary award given annually to students pursuing a degree in library and information science.
“Ms. Hyder is an exemplary role mode in her scholarly achievement, community involvement and advocacy on disability issues,” stated scholarship Chair Elizabeth Ridler. “Hyder plans to continue her advocacy on disability issues as she did as a liaison for Students with Disabilities to the Auburn University Student Government Association Cabinet and as president and secretary of Advocates for Disability Awareness (ADA).”
Hyder stated in her acceptance speech at the ALA annual conference in Orlando that she has been “witness to the trials and bravery of those with disabilities who continually fight for recognition and equality.” Her advice to information professionals is the same lesson she has learned through her work.
“Never assume,” she told attendees of the ASCLA meeting, “that someone is not hurting or ill or fighting alongside someone who is. We as information specialists have a professional and personal obligation to never assume a person’s condition, to see beyond any limitations, and to continue the fight to provide access for all.”
Hyder’s history of disability awareness advocacy and strong career goals in librarianship confirms her commitment to help enable diversity recruitment of librarians with disabilities.
