Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, will speak at Palomar College in a hybrid in-person/virtual event to be followed by a book signing on campus.

SAN MARCOS — The celebrated human rights lawyer Haben Girma, author of “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law,” will speak during a special event in Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College to be held Monday, March 14, at 4:00 p.m.

During the event, entitled, “Disability & Innovation: A Conversation with Haben Girma,” the human rights lawyer will share how she became an advocate and what communities can do to become more inclusive.

“All of our bodies change over time,” Girma said. “We all deserve dignity and access at every stage in our lives. Most people will need to seek accessibility solutions at some point, whether for a family member, a colleague, or for oneself. Disability is a part of the human experience. We all need to engage in the work to make our world accessible to everyone. Inclusion is a choice.”

Girma has been honored by numerous world leaders and was named White House Champion of Change by U.S. President Barack Obama. She is a champion of disability justice, and will bring an inspiring message to the Palomar College community, followed by a book signing at 5:00 p.m.

The event is being co-hosted by the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at Palomar College and  MiraCosta College’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) department. For those who cannot or prefer not to attend in person, Girma’s address will be streamed via Zoom. There is no cost for the event, but registration is required for both in person and online participation. Due to space constraints and COVID-19 protocols, limited seating is available on site.

“This special opportunity to share an evening with Haben reflects Palomar’s deep commitment to offering professional development and education in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Antiracism, and Accessibility (DEIAA),” said DRC Director Dr. Shauna Moriarty.

“To be able to spend time with Haben Girma, a true advocate for inclusion and a voice for those who need representation, is special—and I am looking forward to her presentation,” said Dr. Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of Palomar Community College District.

To learn more about Haben Girma’s upcoming appearance at Palomar, please visit https://www.palomar.edu/drc/haben-girma/