0:00:00.000,0:00:01.455
[MUSIC PLAYING]

0:00:01.455,0:00:02.830
SHERYL BURGSTAHLER:[br]How welcoming

0:00:02.830,0:00:07.090
is your department to faculty[br]members who have disabilities?

0:00:07.090,0:00:09.730
Hello, I'm Sheryl[br]Burgstahler, the Director

0:00:09.730,0:00:14.260
of the DO-IT Center and[br]the AccessADVANCE project.

0:00:14.260,0:00:16.059
Today I'll share[br]some tips for making

0:00:16.059,0:00:19.300
STEM departments more inclusive[br]of faculty with disabilities.

0:00:25.690,0:00:27.490
Application pools[br]for faculty positions

0:00:27.490,0:00:30.250
have become[br]increasingly diverse,

0:00:30.250,0:00:32.110
yet some applicants[br]and employees

0:00:32.110,0:00:34.660
with disabilities[br]encounter challenges

0:00:34.660,0:00:37.840
that occur during the[br]employment application process

0:00:37.840,0:00:40.540
and after they're hired.

0:00:40.540,0:00:44.410
Barriers include those related[br]to facilities, meetings,

0:00:44.410,0:00:51.360
courses, digital documents,[br]services, and online resources.

0:00:51.360,0:00:53.850
Imagine a person who's blind[br]discovering that they cannot

0:00:53.850,0:00:58.530
access digital job application[br]forms with a screen reader.

0:00:58.530,0:01:01.920
Imagine a professor who cannot[br]hear when microphones are not

0:01:01.920,0:01:04.950
used during a large meeting.

0:01:04.950,0:01:08.700
Imagine an instructor with[br]health-related disabilities

0:01:08.700,0:01:11.130
who fears that[br]requesting accommodation

0:01:11.130,0:01:14.430
may affect their chances[br]for earning tenure.

0:01:14.430,0:01:17.310
Campus leaders should adjust[br]institutional and departmental

0:01:17.310,0:01:20.310
policies and procedures[br]to ensure that they

0:01:20.310,0:01:22.530
reflect an inclusive culture.

0:01:22.530,0:01:24.180
Answering the[br]following questions

0:01:24.180,0:01:26.460
can help you get started--

0:01:26.460,0:01:29.460
is the physical environment[br]accessible, comfortable,

0:01:29.460,0:01:35.260
and safe for individuals[br]with a range of abilities?

0:01:35.260,0:01:37.680
Are support staff prepared[br]to work with faculty

0:01:37.680,0:01:40.620
who have disabilities?

0:01:40.620,0:01:43.770
Do flexible policies allow[br]individuals to attend

0:01:43.770,0:01:48.060
meetings and work remotely?

0:01:48.060,0:01:50.130
Is it clear to[br]faculty how to request

0:01:50.130,0:01:52.650
disability-related[br]accommodations?

0:01:52.650,0:01:55.710
And is there guidance in[br]choosing assistive technology?

0:01:58.530,0:02:00.660
Are accommodations[br]provided and funded

0:02:00.660,0:02:03.090
through a central[br]institutional unit,

0:02:03.090,0:02:06.240
thus avoiding the appearance[br]that individual faculty

0:02:06.240,0:02:08.850
members with disabilities[br]are a financial burden

0:02:08.850,0:02:12.300
to the department?

0:02:12.300,0:02:14.490
Are disability-related[br]issues addressed

0:02:14.490,0:02:17.860
in all campus and departmental[br]diversity, equity,

0:02:17.860,0:02:21.480
and inclusion initiatives?

0:02:21.480,0:02:24.390
Taking steps in response[br]to questions like these

0:02:24.390,0:02:28.320
can also benefit faculty who[br]do not disclose disabilities.

0:02:28.320,0:02:31.950
Find additional considerations[br]in our publication

0:02:31.950,0:02:36.450
Equal Access: Making STEM[br]Departments More Accessible to

0:02:36.450,0:02:40.440
and Inclusive of Faculty[br]with Disabilities.

0:02:40.440,0:02:47.160
It's at[br]uw.edu/doit/programs/advance.

0:02:47.160,0:02:54.180
Remember that disability is[br]simply one aspect of diversity.

0:02:54.180,0:02:56.340
Increasing the[br]participation of people

0:02:56.340,0:02:58.920
with disabilities[br]among STEM faculty

0:02:58.920,0:03:02.070
strengthens these fields with[br]their unique perspectives

0:03:02.070,0:03:04.980
and expertise.