Megan Hoagland was a junior in high school when her best friend of four years took his own life.
Now Hoagland, a 20-year-old UF journalism sophomore, co-chairs a walk called Out of the Darkness, a fundraiser that aims to increase mental health awareness.
“People don’t really want to talk about it,” she said. “But it needs to be (brought) into the light.”
Out of the Darkness, an auxiliary of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, was one of about a dozen organizations represented at UF Disability Resource Center’s Accessibility Expo on Thursday on the Plaza of the Americas.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., UF organizations like the Counseling & Wellness Center and Signing Gators set up booths to teach studets about disabilities and eliminate stigmas surrounding people with disabilities.
Amanda Brown, 37, the associate director of the Disability Resource Center, said she believes students of all abilities should have equal access to success in and out of the classroom. The center facilitates different services for students on campus, like alternate testing environments for students with learning disabilities. The center also works to make sure students are well accommodated in their classes.
“We’re working to create a more inclusive and equitable campus environment,” she said.
Macy Reeves, 22, became an ambassador after volunteering with the center for a diversity credit. She said she fell in love with the work she was doing and decided to stay.
Reeves, a telecommunication senior, said she advocates for inclusivity to make all students feel accommodated.
“Being different is OK,” she said.
