Pepperdine University Hosts Annual Disability Awareness Week 2026
From Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, 2026, the Community Engagement and Service team within Pepperdine’s Hub for Spiritual Life will host Disability Awareness Week, an annual, student-led series of events dedicated to accessibility advocacy, education, and visibility across campus. This year’s theme centers on intersectionality, exploring the ways disability intersects with race, diagnosis, masking, and faith, while amplifying the voices and experiences of students and community members with disabilities whose stories often go unheard.
The week will feature a range of educational and community-building events, including self-advocacy workshops, a faith-and-disability panel, a chapel gathering that highlights a neurodivergent approach to reading scripture, and interactive tabling with campus and community partners, with additional events to be announced. All programming is intentionally designed with accessibility in mind, offering Zoom access, recordings, closed captioning, AI-assisted note taking, and pre- and post-event materials. Registration forms will also invite attendees to share specific accessibility needs. As Disability Awareness Week continues to grow each year, its core mission remains the same: to center Pepperdine’s community members with disabilities while equipping students to carry a deeper understanding of accessibility and inclusion into their academic, professional, and personal lives.
“This is something that’s very near and dear to my heart, and there are many stories that deserve to be told,” said Seaver College student and Disability Awareness Week organizer Thalia Markowski. “People don’t always realize the significance disability can have in someone’s life or the importance of understanding the challenges. Everyone deserves support, regardless of their differences, and this event creates an opportunity to learn, build empathy, and foster awareness within the Pepperdine community.”
The Pepperdine community is invited to participate in the following Disability Awareness Week events (this page will continue to be updated as event details are finalized).
Disability Awareness Week 2026 Event Schedule
Monday, March 9
Informational Tabling
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Upper Mullin South
Stop by to learn more about Disability Awareness Week: connect with campus partners and explore resources supporting accessibility and inclusion.
Research Roundtable Featuring Pepperdine Faculty and Students
Location: PLC 153
Time: 3:30-4:30PM
Sign Up to Attend
The Disability Awareness Week 2026 Research Roundtable will showcase scholarly work on disability at all stages, from the early formation of research questions to the discussion of conceptual frameworks and methodology. Faculty and student researchers will share about their current projects, highlighting how disability-focused inquiry can expand the horizons of academic research and practice. This discussion will offer the Pepperdine community a space to learn about ongoing disability-related studies and consider how their own work might contribute to more inclusive knowledge and understanding.
Tuesday, March 10
Informational Tabling
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Upper Mullin South
Engage with student organizers and campus partners throughout the day.
Self-Advocacy Workshop
Time: 4–5:45 PM
Location: PLC 191 and on Zoom
Sign Up to Attend
Led by Elizabeth Pode, assistant director of student engagement and success at the Graziadio Business School, this interactive workshop is designed to equip students with disabilities with practical self-advocacy skills for both their academic journeys and future workplaces. Rooted in the Disability Studies in Education framework, the session will include a hands-on toolkit from Disability Rights California and a worksheet developed by the University of Colorado. Students will leave with tangible strategies to advocate for themselves from a strengths-based perspective.
Samantha Zaragoza – Accessible Healthcare for College Students
Time: Noon-1PM
Location: Fireside Room and on Zoom
Join the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Samantha Zaragoza, in partnership with the Student Health Center for an essential presentation on mastering medical self-advocacy and navigating accessible healthcare. This session equips students with tools to navigate doctors' appointments and advocate for their unique needs with confidence in a clinical setting.
Crafternoons DAW CES and RISE: Create Sensory Crafts
Time: 2:30-4:30PM
Location: Lighthouse
Join RISE and Community Engagement and Service for a Disability Awareness Week focused Crafternoons. Enjoy a relaxing session of crafting where you’ll make your own sensory craft to take home! Refreshments are provided to attendees and no advance registration is necessary.
Wednesday, March 11
Informational Tabling
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Upper Mullin South
Visit Disability Awareness Week tabling to learn more about the week’s events and resources.
Lunch and Learn: Neurodivergent Readings of the Bible
Time: 11 AM–Noon
Location: Fireside Room and on Zoom
Led by Seaver College student and Disability Awareness Week event organizer Thalia Markowski, this session will explore scripture through a neurodivergent lens, inviting participants to consider new ways of engaging with biblical texts.
Faith and Disability Panel
Time: 2–3:30 PM
Location: Fireside Room and on Zoom
Register Here To Attend
A panel discussion examining the intersection of faith and disability, featuring voices from across the Pepperdine community.
Panelist and bios forthcoming.
Thursday, March 12
Informational Tabling with Nonprofit Shemesh Farms
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Upper Mullin South
Connect with Shemesh Farms representatives and learn about accessibility and inclusion initiatives. Shemesh Farms is a Malibu-based nonprofit social enterprise and inclusive community that provides meaningful employment and training for adults with diverse neuro and physical abilities.
Sensory Slowdown
Time: 3:30-4:30PM
Location: AC Patio
Join this gathering for a calming, sensory-friendly space designed for rest, regulation, and connection. Stop by the AC Patio for an afternoon of relaxing activities, accompanied by tea and aromatherapy from Shemesh Farms, a nonprofit organization based in Malibu employing adults with disabilities. No advanced registration required.
Friday, March 13
Informational Tabling
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Upper Mullin South
Conclude Disability Awareness Week by visiting tabling stations and engaging with campus partners.