The Office of Global Engagement is pleased to partner with The Harkin Institute to welcome visiting scholars to campus during International Education Week whose research focuses on topics related to disability rights and inclusive education.
Zhou Xiaorong is a research scholar at St. Cloud State University. She holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation and languages. Xiaorong specializes in collaborating, cultivating, and utilizing her broad global network for the purpose of research and development of Deaf culture-based programs and sign languages for both Chinese and American Deaf academic communities. She also provided multicultural guidance regarding accessibility laws, cultural sensitivities, empowerment of Deaf identities, and facilitations & collaborations of American Sign Language/Chinese Sign Language/Korean Sign language for international Deaf communities.
Xiaorong will be joined by colleagues from the Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy at St. Cloud State University. While on Drake’s campus, they will visit an American Sign Language class with Professor Polly Brekke and share their expertise during the U.S.-China Symposium and International Education Week Forum.
Renci Xie is a Chinese woman with disabilities and a disability rights self-advocate. Her story about embracing her disability identity was broadly reported. In January 2022, Renci was featured in a National Public Radio All Things Considered interview, “China excels at the Paralympics, but its disabled citizens are fighting for access.” She is currently working on a Ph.D. in disability law at Syracuse University.
Meet these scholars and learn more about disability rights and inclusive education in China at the following events during International Education Week:
Interview with Zhou Xiaorong
- Moderated by Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy at the Harkin Institute
- Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 9:30-10:30 am
- Tom and Ruth Harkin Center
- ASL will be provided
- Register
U.S.-China Symposium Panel Discussion
- Thursday, Nov. 17, at 10:30-11:30 am
- Sussman Theater
- ASL will be provided
- Register
International Education Week Forum: China
- Collier Scripps Hall, 3rd Floor Classrooms
- 8:00 am Research presentation by Dr. Amy Knopf, Harkin Fellow 2018-2019 and Director of the St. Cloud State University Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy (ASL will be provided)
- 8:00 am Research presentation by Renci Xie
- 9:15 am Research presentation by Zhou Xiaorong (ASL will be provided)
- Registration not required. Learn more
— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement