C# SqlDataReader = null?

While dr.Read()
  corporateTable.Rows.Add(New Object() { _
    Convert.ToDateTime(dr("EventBeginDate")) _
    , If(dr("EventEndDate") Is DBNull.Value, Convert.ToDateTime(dr("EventBeginDate")).AddDays(1), Convert.ToDateTime(dr("EventEndDate"))) _
    , Convert.ToString(dr("EventType")) _
    , Convert.ToString(dr("EventDescription")) _
    , Convert.ToString(dr("EventMessage")) _
  })
End While

form._date101 = reader[52] == DBNull.Value ? null : (DateTime?)reader[52];

int ordinal_so_type=reader.GetOrdinal("so_type");
//...
while(reader.Read()==true)
{
  //reading other columns here
  if (reader.IsDBNull(ordinal_so_type)==false)
  {
    s.type=reader.GetInt32(ordinal_so_type);
  }
  else
  {
    //do whatever you like if the so_type column is null
  }
}

/// <summary>
/// Helper class for SqlDataReader, which allows for the calling code to retrieve a value in a generic fashion.
/// </summary>
public static class SqlReaderHelper
{
    private static bool IsNullableType(Type theValueType)
    {
        return (theValueType.IsGenericType && theValueType.GetGenericTypeDefinition().Equals(typeof(Nullable<>)));
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Returns the value, of type T, from the SqlDataReader, accounting for both generic and non-generic types.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T">T, type applied</typeparam>
    /// <param name="theReader">The SqlDataReader object that queried the database</param>
    /// <param name="theColumnName">The column of data to retrieve a value from</param>
    /// <returns>T, type applied; default value of type if database value is null</returns>
    public static T GetValue<T>(this SqlDataReader theReader, string theColumnName)
    {
        // Read the value out of the reader by string (column name); returns object
        object theValue = theReader[theColumnName];

        // Cast to the generic type applied to this method (i.e. int?)
        Type theValueType = typeof(T);

        // Check for null value from the database
        if (DBNull.Value != theValue)
        {
            // We have a null, do we have a nullable type for T?
            if (!IsNullableType(theValueType))
            {
                // No, this is not a nullable type so just change the value's type from object to T
                return (T)Convert.ChangeType(theValue, theValueType);
            }
            else
            {
                // Yes, this is a nullable type so change the value's type from object to the underlying type of T
                NullableConverter theNullableConverter = new NullableConverter(theValueType);

                return (T)Convert.ChangeType(theValue, theNullableConverter.UnderlyingType);
            }
        }

        // The value was null in the database, so return the default value for T; this will vary based on what T is (i.e. int has a default of 0)
        return default(T);
    }
}

yourSqlReaderObject.GetValue<int?>("SOME_ID_COLUMN");
yourSqlReaderObject.GetValue<string>("SOME_VALUE_COLUMN");