Events
Katherine and Arthur Sehlin Lecture: The Disability Paradox
Please join us for the 2025 Katherine and Arthur Sehlin Lecture, "The Disability Paradox: Professional Humility and the Radical Acceptance of Disability Justice," a conversation with disability experts Jules Edwards and Amy Hewitt, PhD.
The event will be held in the Heritage Gallery in McNamara Alumni Center.
Seating is limited, so please register early. RSVP Today.
Continuing education units are available for licensed social workers.
Parking is available in the University Avenue Ramp, which is adjacent to the McNamara Center.
Event schedule:
- 5:00 - 6:00 pm: Dinner buffet
- 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Presentation and Q&A
Speaker information:
Jules Edwards
Jules Edwards is an Anishinaabe disability justice advocate. Guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings, her culture shapes her worldview, learning from ancestral wisdom while working to create a more equitable community for future generations.
As an Indigenous autistic parent raising Afro-Indigenous autistic children, she recognizes parenthood as the most challenging and most rewarding experience of her life. This is especially true in a society that devalues the lives of disabled people and erases intersectionality. The barriers that exist for parents and caregivers of disabled people are amplified for disabled parents, and multiplied for people of color.
As a writer, she has contributed to scholarly articles, op-eds, and co-authored the book “I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World,” which seeks to encourage people to see the world through multiple lenses and advocate for disabled people.
Currently, she is the Co-Executive Director of the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, and co-leads the Center for Neurodiversity and Career Development at Virginia Wesleyan University. Jules also serves on the board for the Minnesota Ombudsman for American Indian Families, MN Neurodivergent Education Advocacy and Therapy Services, and as a member of the Intertribal Disability Advocacy Council.
Amy Hewitt, PhD
Amy Hewitt, PhD has an extensive background in the disability field. She has worked in various positions over the past 40+ years to improve community inclusion and quality of life for children, youth, and adults with disabilities and their families.
Her career began as a Direct Support Professional, and she currently employs DSPs to support her brother-in-law, who lives with autism, addiction, and other chronic conditions. She is the Director of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration and conducts research, evaluation, and demonstration projects about community living and the direct support workforce. She is a well- known author of numerous journal articles, curricula, technical reports, and books.
Dr. Hewitt is the editor of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a journal of the AAIDD. She is a Past President of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) and Past President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). She has a PhD in social work from the University of Minnesota.
About the Katherine and Arthur Sehlin Lecture Series
The Katherine and Arthur Sehlin Lectures are made possible with the generous support of an endowment established in 1986 by the Sehlin family. These lectures reflect the values expressed by Katherine and Arthur Sehlin in their professional lives and volunteer activities. The yearly lecture alternates between the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering and the School of Social Work.
Katherine Sehlin had a distinguished career as a volunteer and community activist for more than three decades. She provided state and national level leadership and was noted for her volunteer activities in the social services arena. Some of her notable roles included serving as Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Aging and twice representing the state of Minnesota at the White House Conference on Aging.
Arthur Sehlin supported and joined Katherine in working for many human service causes. He also enjoyed a long and successful career in civil engineering and contracting, and he built the Industrial Construction Corporation into one of the top bridge construction firms in the nation.
In their personal and professional lives, the Sehlins were dedicated to being results oriented. Their steadfast commitment to education and pride in the University of Minnesota inspired the creation of this lectureship. We are indebted to Katherine and Arthur Sehlin for establishing an endowment at the University to support this important lecture series.
Photographs taken at the event may be used in University of Minnesota print and online publications, promotions, or shared with the CEHD community.
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. All are welcome.
The University of Minnesota campuses were built on the traditional homelands of the Dakota and Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous peoples who have walked on these lands from time immemorial. It is important to acknowledge the peoples on whose land we live, learn, and work as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with our tribal nations. We also acknowledge that words are not enough. We must ensure that our institution provides support, resources, and programs that increase access to all aspects of higher education for our American Indian students, staff, faculty, and community members.