Tristan Forbis does not let his disability keep him from serving as a disc jockey on AC radio station FM 90.

Jacob McGee is making a difference when he gathers a group of his fellow Amarillo College students to visit youngsters in Northwest Texas Children’s Hospital, where he himself spent so many lonely days as a youth.

Emily Nipper, whose ability to concentrate is inhibited by a skull fracture suffered in a frightful auto accident, is making a difference as she prepares to assist others through a career in dental work.

Adrian Chavez is making a difference by meeting the challenges of cerebral palsy head-on in pursuit of a possible civil-service occupation in criminal justice.

These students and others will explain how disAbility Services at AC makes a monumental difference for them – students with disabilities – during the 14th annual LITE Luncheon on Thursday, April 28 in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center.

The LITE Luncheon is a community-wide event to raise both awareness of and funding for students with disabilities who are committed to Living Independently Through Education (LITE). This year’s LITE Luncheon is themed “Making a Difference,” and the cost to attend is $20.

Please contact Olga Kleffman for tickets at (806) 371-5001 or obustos@actx.edu. For additional information, visit www.actx.edu/disability.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. and will include the ever-popular, traditionally extensive silent auction that additionally bolsters the scholarship fund enabling people with disabilities to attend AC.

The mistress of ceremonies will be Jackie Kingston of KAMR-TV news, and featured speakers are those students who have been singled out this school year by disAbility Services as Students of the Month.

“Going to college when you have a disability is scary at first,” criminal justice major Adrian Chavez said, “but when you get to AC you realize you don’t have to be scared. Everyone is incredibly helpful, especially the people in disAbility Services, but so are the instructors.

“I’m not scared anymore . . . well, maybe just a little of math,” Adrian quipped.

The LITE Luncheon is conducted each year by AC’s disAbility Services in conjunction with the Amarillo Advisory Commission for People with Disabilities, the AC Foundation, the Civic Center and other community organizations. AC typically serves more than 400 students with disabilities in a given semester, and the luncheon has helped raise almost a quarter of a million dollars since 2002.

“This event is all about making higher education a reality for our students,” Brenda Rossnagel, director of disAbility Services, said. “This community has been immensely supportive of our efforts and we’re extremely thankful.

“When we unite as a community, we can and do make a difference for our students with disabilities, who then can and do make a difference in the world in which all of us have a stake.”

April 4, 2016