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News: Talk online about your experiences as an adjunct, visiting assistant professor, postdoc, or other contract faculty member.
 
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Author Topic: Duty to Accommodate  (Read 10117 times)
firesky
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« on: January 30, 2009, 10:17:16 PM »

I'm a professor in the midst of accommodation negotiations due to a invisible disability. 

I would like to hear from other professors regarding their experiences (i.e. what to ask for, what to watch out for etc.). 

Does anyone know of a website that speaks to the particular needs/request of academic faculty?  (I've searched all the usual disability websites - but have yet to find anything on academia - i.e. possible scenarios). 

Any advice would be most appreciated. 
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untenured
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« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2009, 10:30:58 PM »

Are you encountering any difficulties that we can help you with?  Some more information might assist us.

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jackalope
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« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2009, 10:59:48 PM »

My advice is to hand off everything to the university disabilities coordinator (or whatever the person is called at your institution).

There are powerful matters of federal law at play here. Just because you are the professor does NOT mean that you get to decide what accommodation is appropriate. Cross the wrong disabled student and you can get sued in heartbeat.

Kick this up to your disabilities person and make sure the student deals directly with that person. And when the coordinator comes back with the list of permissible accommodations follow it to the letter.
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systeme_d_
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ஜ۩۞۩ஜ


« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2009, 11:01:47 PM »

Oh, I was reading this as the OP has a disability and needs his/her university to make appropriate accommodations.
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jackalope
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« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2009, 12:19:54 AM »

Oh, I was reading this as the OP has a disability and needs his/her university to make appropriate accommodations.

Oh I am sorry I think you are correct. Ignore my post.
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namazu
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« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2009, 12:39:45 AM »

Have you seen the Job Accommodation Network site yet?

It is not specifically geared toward university faculty/staff, but it is geared toward working adults more generally, and has many examples of accommodations for invisible disabilities for a variety of job descriptions (including academic jobs, and jobs with similar demands, tasks, and environments).  They also will consult with you regarding accommodations and approaching the topic with your employer, and they are familiar with differences in rules/regulations covering state employees and private employees (depending on your institution).  The search features of the site aren't great, but if you poke around you may find something useful.   

If you are in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field (and in this case, some social scientists as well), the AAAS EntryPoint program may be able to point you in the direction of useful resources.  Although their primary focus is internships for undergrad and grad students with disabilities, they have active mentorship programs.  They also publish a directory of scientists and engineers with disabilities, so you may be able to use that to find someone in your field and/or with a similar disability who could give advice.

In psychology, the APA has an active program focusing on inclusion of researchers with disabilities, and they are also starting a mentorship program. 

There are also a number of disability studies programs around the country, most of which have some faculty with disabilities, often in the social sciences, humanities, law, architecture/urban planning, etc.  Though the faculty with disabilities may be skewed a bit more towards those with apparent disabilities, you might be able to get some suggestions there from disability-friendly faculty members.

Best of luck!

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firesky
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« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2009, 02:43:21 AM »

Yes - I am the one seeking accommodation.  I'm already working with a couple of lawyers (from our union and a private labour lawyer) and am about to go into the big negotiation meetings involving the powers that be at the university.

Limitations I'm dealing with involve - fatigue and loss of concentration/memory as the term goes on - In terms of type of illness/disability - depression and PTSD as a result of an injury many years ago (physical effects have finally subdued). Limitations I'm dealing with involve - fatigue and loss of concentration/memory as the term goes on.  We are trying to get the teaching/administration down to one term - but am encountering resistance (it would be officially .5 position).....

Has anyone gone through a similar process?  Why types of things have you included in an accommodation?  - i.e. things that will help reduce the stress of the job?  I just want to make sure that I have considered my options (i.e. getting a TA for a course etc.)

namazu - thanks for your comments - yes, I have researched the JAN website - very helpful - but am still wondering about possibilities in an academic institution - (I have found websites dealing with accommodation scenarios for nurses, engineers and lawyers - but not professors).  Thanks for the other suggestions - I'm not in the sciences or social sciences - I'm in humanities.    - good idea about contacting people from disability studies programs.

Thanks everyone - any further ideas would be most appreciated.

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takapa
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« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2009, 08:24:28 AM »

I'm a prof with a disability (deaf).  JAN is a good resource for general things and can help if you call them.  The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) is mostly for disability support services (http://www.ahead.org/) but they could help too.
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sciencephd
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« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2009, 01:48:06 PM »

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable resource. Its very helpful for me. :)

Oh, that's a new one, a spammer who can't even get their links right !
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sciencephd
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« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2009, 01:51:30 PM »

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable resource. Its very helpful for me. :)

Oh, that's a new one, a spammer who can't even get their links right !

Hi, I am not a spammer, I am volunteer teaching in asian deaf schools.
:$

Your signature has two commercial links, and that was your first post.  This makes you a spammer.
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone

O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts  --Pyshnov
sciencephd
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« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2009, 01:58:08 PM »

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable resource. Its very helpful for me. :)

Oh, that's a new one, a spammer who can't even get their links right !

Hi, I am not a spammer, I am volunteer teaching in asian deaf schools.
:$

Your signature has two commercial links, and that was your first post.  This makes you a spammer.

You can check that site, which is just providing information and thats my personal site and i can link my personal site in signature.

Moderators ?
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone

O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts  --Pyshnov
meremuch
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« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2009, 03:07:33 PM »

I am also an instructor (adjunct) having a difficult time with accommodations.  My disability is very evident, and most of the information available is about accommodating students.  Here is a link for a listserv for disabled faculty members and you may find it useful.

DISABLED-FACULTY@aomlists.pace.edu
wankelc@OPTONLINE.NET
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