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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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SHERYL BURGSTAHLER:
How welcoming

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is your department to faculty
members who have disabilities?

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Hello, I'm Sheryl
Burgstahler, the Director

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of the DO-IT Center and
the AccessADVANCE project.

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Today I'll share
some tips for making

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STEM departments more inclusive
of faculty with disabilities.

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Application pools
for faculty positions

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have become
increasingly diverse,

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yet some applicants
and employees

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with disabilities
encounter challenges

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that occur during the
employment application process

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and after they're hired.

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Barriers include those related
to facilities, meetings,

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courses, digital documents,
services, and online resources.

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Imagine a person who's blind
discovering that they cannot

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access digital job application
forms with a screen reader.

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Imagine a professor who cannot
hear when microphones are not

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used during a large meeting.

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Imagine an instructor with
health-related disabilities

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who fears that
requesting accommodation

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may affect their chances
for earning tenure.

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Campus leaders should adjust
institutional and departmental

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policies and procedures
to ensure that they

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reflect an inclusive culture.

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Answering the
following questions

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can help you get started--

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is the physical environment
accessible, comfortable,

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and safe for individuals
with a range of abilities?

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Are support staff prepared
to work with faculty

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who have disabilities?

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Do flexible policies allow
individuals to attend

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meetings and work remotely?

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Is it clear to
faculty how to request

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disability-related
accommodations?

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And is there guidance in
choosing assistive technology?

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Are accommodations
provided and funded

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through a central
institutional unit,

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thus avoiding the appearance
that individual faculty

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members with disabilities
are a financial burden

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to the department?

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Are disability-related
issues addressed

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in all campus and departmental
diversity, equity,

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and inclusion initiatives?

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Taking steps in response
to questions like these

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can also benefit faculty who
do not disclose disabilities.

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Find additional considerations
in our publication

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Equal Access: Making STEM
Departments More Accessible to

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and Inclusive of Faculty
with Disabilities.

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It's at
uw.edu/doit/programs/advance.

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Remember that disability is
simply one aspect of diversity.

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Increasing the
participation of people

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with disabilities
among STEM faculty

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strengthens these fields with
their unique perspectives

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and expertise.