WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.455
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:00:01.455 --> 00:00:02.830
SHERYL BURGSTAHLER:
How welcoming

00:00:02.830 --> 00:00:07.090
is your department to faculty
members who have disabilities?

00:00:07.090 --> 00:00:09.730
Hello, I'm Sheryl
Burgstahler, the Director

00:00:09.730 --> 00:00:14.260
of the DO-IT Center and
the AccessADVANCE project.

00:00:14.260 --> 00:00:16.059
Today I'll share
some tips for making

00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:19.300
STEM departments more inclusive
of faculty with disabilities.

00:00:25.690 --> 00:00:27.490
Application pools
for faculty positions

00:00:27.490 --> 00:00:30.250
have become
increasingly diverse,

00:00:30.250 --> 00:00:32.110
yet some applicants
and employees

00:00:32.110 --> 00:00:34.660
with disabilities
encounter challenges

00:00:34.660 --> 00:00:37.840
that occur during the
employment application process

00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:40.540
and after they're hired.

00:00:40.540 --> 00:00:44.410
Barriers include those related
to facilities, meetings,

00:00:44.410 --> 00:00:51.360
courses, digital documents,
services, and online resources.

00:00:51.360 --> 00:00:53.850
Imagine a person who's blind
discovering that they cannot

00:00:53.850 --> 00:00:58.530
access digital job application
forms with a screen reader.

00:00:58.530 --> 00:01:01.920
Imagine a professor who cannot
hear when microphones are not

00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.950
used during a large meeting.

00:01:04.950 --> 00:01:08.700
Imagine an instructor with
health-related disabilities

00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:11.130
who fears that
requesting accommodation

00:01:11.130 --> 00:01:14.430
may affect their chances
for earning tenure.

00:01:14.430 --> 00:01:17.310
Campus leaders should adjust
institutional and departmental

00:01:17.310 --> 00:01:20.310
policies and procedures
to ensure that they

00:01:20.310 --> 00:01:22.530
reflect an inclusive culture.

00:01:22.530 --> 00:01:24.180
Answering the
following questions

00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:26.460
can help you get started--

00:01:26.460 --> 00:01:29.460
is the physical environment
accessible, comfortable,

00:01:29.460 --> 00:01:35.260
and safe for individuals
with a range of abilities?

00:01:35.260 --> 00:01:37.680
Are support staff prepared
to work with faculty

00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:40.620
who have disabilities?

00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:43.770
Do flexible policies allow
individuals to attend

00:01:43.770 --> 00:01:48.060
meetings and work remotely?

00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:50.130
Is it clear to
faculty how to request

00:01:50.130 --> 00:01:52.650
disability-related
accommodations?

00:01:52.650 --> 00:01:55.710
And is there guidance in
choosing assistive technology?

00:01:58.530 --> 00:02:00.660
Are accommodations
provided and funded

00:02:00.660 --> 00:02:03.090
through a central
institutional unit,

00:02:03.090 --> 00:02:06.240
thus avoiding the appearance
that individual faculty

00:02:06.240 --> 00:02:08.850
members with disabilities
are a financial burden

00:02:08.850 --> 00:02:12.300
to the department?

00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:14.490
Are disability-related
issues addressed

00:02:14.490 --> 00:02:17.860
in all campus and departmental
diversity, equity,

00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:21.480
and inclusion initiatives?

00:02:21.480 --> 00:02:24.390
Taking steps in response
to questions like these

00:02:24.390 --> 00:02:28.320
can also benefit faculty who
do not disclose disabilities.

00:02:28.320 --> 00:02:31.950
Find additional considerations
in our publication

00:02:31.950 --> 00:02:36.450
Equal Access: Making STEM
Departments More Accessible to

00:02:36.450 --> 00:02:40.440
and Inclusive of Faculty
with Disabilities.

00:02:40.440 --> 00:02:47.160
It's at
uw.edu/doit/programs/advance.

00:02:47.160 --> 00:02:54.180
Remember that disability is
simply one aspect of diversity.

00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:56.340
Increasing the
participation of people

00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:58.920
with disabilities
among STEM faculty

00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:02.070
strengthens these fields with
their unique perspectives

00:03:02.070 --> 00:03:04.980
and expertise.