Emory’s Department of Accessibility Services is planning the university’s first Disability Inclusion Week for Oct. 28-Nov. 1, with a daily workshop or panel focused on equipping faculty and staff to become allies for those with disabilities.
“We wanted to highlight how we as a university can move from disability awareness to allyship,” says Rashad Morgan, DAS director and ADA compliance officer. “Allyship is more action-based, with practical strategies that faculty and staff can implement in the classroom and in the workplace to be more inclusive.”
The five workshops (schedule listed below) will highlight different settings within the university — from the classroom to the office to the clinic — but the topics discussed will be relevant to any faculty or staff member. DAS is partnering with the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, Human Resources’ Learning and Organizational Development team and the Emory Autism Center to offer the sessions, all of which will take place virtually.
The inaugural Disability Inclusion Week is one of several initiatives DAS has launched to foster a more inclusive campus community. The department recently relocated its office to Emory’s main campus from the Clairmont campus to enhance support for students.
The new office, located on the first floor of the Administration Building, will allow students to more easily access services and connect with their accommodations specialist. Morgan believes the new location will help students flourish.
“By being closer and more accessible, we hope to strengthen the connection between students and their support services, fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring that every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.”
Disability Inclusion Week 2024
Monday, Oct. 28
1:30–3 p.m.
Led by Quinn Foster, senior training consultant, diversity & inclusion education and outreach, this workshop will share core principles and strategies that every employee should know regarding allyship and how to become allies for individuals with disabilities.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
1:30–3 p.m.
In this workshop, disability justice expert Dr. Jennifer Sarrett will present a strategy for creating an intentionally inclusive classroom environment based on the accessibility framework, Universal Design. This approach is not only proactive, but intersectional in nature. From your course concept to your classroom policies, Universal Design for Equity encourages you to explore possibilities of equity and access throughout your courses and student interactions.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
1:30–3 p.m.
Join this panel discussion made up of autistic students, faculty, and staff to learn more about how to foster inclusion and belonging for the autistic and neurodivergent community at Emory University.
Moderator: Kelsey Bohlke, Assistant Director of Emory Oaks
Panelists:
- Rachel Harmon, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Oxford College
- Maddie Lampert 25C, Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology
- Shangrila Parvin, MPH, Research Specialist
- Karlié Rodríguez, English PhD Candidate
Thursday, Oct. 31
1:30–3 p.m.
Immense diversity across the disability community in addition to collective critique of ‘cultural competence’ have taught us that there is never an ethical instruction manual on how to work with a specific marginalized community. Alternatively, as healthcare providers, we must commit to learning about how dehumanizing systems and interpersonal practices of oppression, such as ableism, manifest in healthcare practice so that we can equip ourselves with the critical thinking skills we need to promote safe, anti-ableist care. This workshop will help attendees develop critical disability consciousness as it pertains to healthcare education and practice so that healthcare students and practitioners can begin to build the knowledge base and tools needed to facilitate disability belongingness and equity in practice.
Presenter: Sabrina Ali Jamal-Eddine, PhD RN
Friday, Nov. 1
10–11:30 a.m.
This workshop aims to provide an overview of actionable measures that people managers can take to promote disability inclusion in the workplace. We will discuss how to create a work environment that welcomes disability disclosure, how to identify and address ableist biases in the workplace, and how to navigate requests for accommodations in receptive and supportive manner.
Presenter: Joelle Butler, Associate Director of the Department of Accessibility Services
The Department of Accessibility Services values inclusion and access for all participants and is pleased to provide reasonable accommodations. Please contact Rashad Morgan via email at ramorg5@emory.edu to make a reasonable accommodation request. Requests should be submitted five business days prior to the workshop date. 
