Wishlist
We need to do more to support people with disabilities in STEM.
What would you add to the wishlist of tools, resources, and accommodations to help you navigate being a person with a disability in STEM fields?
Important Note:
Work with people with disabilities, not on their behalf. Include the disabled community’s input on inclusive design and accommodations. If you want to know how you can support someone, asking them is the first step.
Accessible Environments
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Sometimes things happen- appointments, illness, flare-ups, just overall bad days. Adjustable deadlines to accommodate the unpredictability of life can benefit not just people with disabilities, but everyone else as well.
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“We all have different needs when it comes to our daily schedules, and this is especially complicated for people with disabilities who may need to structure their day around their health. Allowing people to work during hours of their choosing will ensure people can do the best work they can.”
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Amazing programs like the Disabled In STEM Mentorship program create community and support people in STEM at all levels of education and careers. However, there often isn’t funding for these unique opportunities. Supporting the scale-up of these programs is essential.
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In the growing climate of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) work, institutions and supervisors need to invest in education on ableism and implicit bias. Ableist microagressions can slowly wear away at a person.
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“Concentrating on a meeting looks different for everyone. Neurodivergent people may need to move around, doodle, or fidget to maintain their focus during meetings, which might look unfocussed or unprofessional to others on a video call. Let people turn off their cameras and work in ways that are comfortable to them.”
Accessible Tools
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Nothing is more frustrating than being in a virtual meeting with poor video or audio quality. While this annoyed everyone during the pandemic, it continues to pose issues for individuals who attend meetings remotely.
To successfully set up a hybrid meeting, all in person members of the meeting should have cameras on (or be visible to hybrid participants). Microphones should be set up to ensure that hybrid participants can hear everyone in person. Consider investing in technology like OWLs (and learning how to use them!).
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We need to improve screen reader accessibility of scientific literature, including alt text for journal articles.
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We need to design screen readers that are compatable with scientific software and software tools. In the meantime, ensure that you do not require the use of inaccessible software like RStudio in your classroom.
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“Make sure when designing slides for a presentation, or a website, that the colour profile is accessible to a wide variety of people. Avoid starkly contrasting colours which might be jarring to the reader’s eye. Bright, flashy colours might look good, but they make text harder to read.”
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“Captioning is one of those accommodations that works for everyone. Not everyone has English as their first language. Some people are deaf, or blind. Some people just like captions. Having captioning for videos, meetings, slide decks, any sort of images used, makes this material accessible to everyone.”
Accessible Infrastructure
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When hosting a fun science night or an impactful lecture series, consider the accessibility of the physical event space. Check for ramps, wide doorways, heavy doors, and accessible, easy to find washrooms.
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With the advent of hybrid technologies that emerged during the pandemic, many STEM professionals were able to take part in research conferences from their own homes and offices. Now that conferences are mostly returning to in-person, please keep hybrid formats an option! Not everyone is physically or financially able to travel, physically attend long conferences days, or risk being in unmasked environments.
Being able to attend conferences remotely allows for individuals who can’t be there in person to still participate and contribute.
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Most labs have set bench heights for standing, able-bodied individuals. Not everyone can stand, stand for long periods of time, or comfortably sit on tall stools. Having bench tops at different heights makes lab work more inclusive (and less painful!).
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Conferences are busy places: large numbers of people and loud environments can be difficult for people who struggle with sensory issues. Having quiet spaces to rest and reset would allow people to then return to the conference with more confidence. This could look like a designated room introduced on the agenda or map.
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“In my personal experience, there’s a lack of intersectionality in academia. If I find a space for Queer people, it’s not safe for People of Colour. Or maybe if it’s a safe space for Queer people and People of Colour, it’s not safe for disabled people, or at least not for my immunocompromised self. There are organizations for Queer people, for women, for racialized groups at my institute, but none of them are covid-safe.”
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“Between travel and the stress associated with presenting, having time off after conferences would benefit everyone. Able-bodied and disabled STEM professionals alike would have an opportunity to rest and reset, allowing them to continue their work refreshed.”
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“When working in a lab environment, fume hoods are often required for safety. In order for labs to be fully accessible, labs need to have fume hoods which don’t have anything underneath them. This allows individuals in wheelchairs (or people who need to sit when working) to be able to utilize them.”