Don’t dis-my-ability: Disabilities advocate featured in seventh annual disability conversation

To celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month, Florida State University’s University of Choice organization will host disability advocate Shawn Smith during its seventh annual disability conversation.

Smith, a New Brunswick Canadian, is a psychotherapist and autism and ADHD counselor. He’s also the founder and CEO of Don’t dis-my-ability® Consultation Services Inc. where he has helped hundreds of people with neurodivergence thrive and accept themselves, set goals and move ahead with peace and authenticity.

Smith is also the Provincial Ambassador for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and is a lecturer and an advisory board member for “INCLUDE,” an innovative learning program at the University of Connecticut.

“Don’t dis-my-ability: A Conversation with Shawn Smith” will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at The Globe Auditorium, 110 S. Woodward Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

During the event, Smith will relate his unique story beginning in childhood with learning struggles that included failing 10th grade math four times and 32 attempts to earn 18 credits toward graduation. At age 30, Smith’s life changed with a diagnosis of ADHD. Once he understood the complexities of neurodivergence, he was empowered to succeed. In 2010, Shawn was accepted to the Master of Education in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of New Brunswick and graduated in 2011 at the top of his class.

With a passion for providing therapeutic support to others and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion, Smith is thrilled to be coming to FSU. This visit follows family trips to Tallahassee when he was young – at a time when he thought college was not an option. Nevertheless, he would wear an FSU cap that signified his love for the university.

“I never thought in a million years I would be here as a speaker,” Smith said. “Now, I can impart my life’s experience to the FSU audience who has inspired me for so many years.”

The University of Choice is a student led advocacy group at Florida State University that fosters relationships, builds community relations and advocates for the needs of individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit the University of Choice Facebook page (@uocfsu) and Instagram (@fsu_uoc).