Campus Life

DeNotaris to speak about employment for people with disabilities Oct. 18

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — David DeNotaris, executive director of the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and a nationally known public speaker, will talk about employment issues for people with disabilities at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, on Penn State’s University Park campus.

The public event, scheduled in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, also will be live-streamed online for Penn State Commonwealth Campus and World Campus faculty and students and other remote attendees through MediaSite Live.

DeNotaris is a nationally known interactive speaker, world champion powerlifting athlete, radio host, and author of the book “Feeling Your Way Through Life: A Journey Through Challenges, Insights and Possibilities.” He also happens to be blind. 

Born with a rare eye disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa, doctors insisted that his life was hopeless, but his family knew better. "My family provided me with the proper information and inspiration for me to overcome the challenge of blindness," DeNotaris said. DeNotaris’ real-life experiences, explanation of challenges and positive strategies and techniques for overcoming obstacles, fear and self-doubt inspire and motivate audiences.

“I believe my eyes were closed to help others see their own true potential,” DeNotaris explained.

The event is sponsored by Penn State University Libraries’ Adaptive Technology and Services and the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact Susan Hayya at 814-865-0284 or shh2@psu.edu in advance of the event.

The University Libraries’ Marion MacKinnon Adaptive Technology and Services provides a range of hardware, software and services University-wide. Among other services, it offers books and other materials converted into formats accessible to individuals with disabilities.

David De Notaris, executive director of the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and a nationally known public speaker, will give a live-streamed speech on employment issues for people with disabilities at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Foster Auditorium, on Penn State’s University Park campus and on MediaSite Live. Credit: photo providedAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated January 31, 2017

Contact