September 2025 Meeting

Meeting Date
  • Opening quotation 
    • “When I finally met blind role models who had similar backgrounds it changed my life.”- Conchita Hernández Legorreta
  • Agenda 
    • Chief Ray Hall - Personal Safety Empowerment for Community Members with Mobility Disabilities
      • Topic postponed for future meeting.
    • Provost's Disability Scholarship Initiative
      • DSI One-pager https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b448iG1pcKZaaBhk0eGt-VIax4c6V_YJ/view?usp=sharing 
      • Dr. Abigail Dumes- Long COVID, Disability, and Work Exploring the Lived Experiences of UM Ann Arbor Faculty and Staff
      • Emerson Delacroix & Dr. Joy Knoblauch- Faculty and Staff Preferences for Quiet Work Spaces
        • Faculty and Staff Preferences for Quiet Work Spaces screener link https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2UH07h4YdMxgge 
        • About the study:
          • If we want to design inclusive spaces we cannot rely on the simple and easy rules that are currently being used to design spaces.
          • Humans are diverse and their needs and preferences in spaces vary widely.
          • Method:
            • Use quiet spaces and generative tools to guide a 2 step survey of faculty and staff preferences for quiet working spaces.
          • Phases
            • Phase 1- gather preferences from neurodiverse and/or disabled faculty and staff
            • Phase 2- Put this information into a diffusion engine to make images of the spaces that meet the preferences that were discussed in Phase 1. 
            • Phase 3- Ask the same faculty and staff in Phase one to evaluate if the images generated in Phase 2 match their preferences
            • Phase 4- Share results through email, film, and articles.
      • Dr. Michael McKee & Dawn Michael- Michigan Medicine Workplace Equity for Individuals with Disabilities
        • Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Vh_LUDZtCfXqn6gAnPuzm2LtiVidKmz-euwW7n3PKLs/edit?usp=sharing 
        • Currently no sign up is available. They are looking to get the survey out and developing resources for Phase 2.
          • In year 2 they hope to provide resources, a clearinghouse, workshops, and mentoring programs for individuals with disabilities.
        • About the research:
          • The campus climate survey in 2016 recorded that approximately 3.5% of respondents said they had a disability.
            • It was also recorded that respondents who said they had a disability were 73% more likely to have discrimination against them compared to the non-disability group.
          • This research is looking to address the following gaps
            • Surveying those in the Michigan Medicine space about this topic. 
              • Staff, employees, faculty members.
            • To discover and recognize concerns in the workplace environment at Michigan Medicine.
          • Target participants will be Michigan Medicine Employees from all departments and various clinics.
        • Status of research:
          • Getting feedback from stakeholders about their survey draft.
          • Focus groups will be conducted in winter or spring 2026.
      • Dr. Karl Jepsen & Dr. Ciara Witt- Disability Research Safety Infrastructure Project
        • Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YHxQuTq6z4AFqktCxmy0S01gjQkk1BfY/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109180476440653619515&rtpof=true&sd=true 
        • About the research:
          • Spaces are often built with ADA accessibility in mind but when furnished with equipment, supplies, furniture, etc. may become difficult for people with disabilities to navigate safely.
          • Goal: Build a proactive, sustainable approach to disability accommodations in research and creative practice spaces. at U-M.
          • Objectives:
            • Identify barriers in current research/creative environments.
            • Improve access to accommodation resources and support.
            • Share best practices and scholarship to strengthen equity and safety.
        • Status of research:
          • In the discovery phase.
          • Survey activity to commence in early 2026.
  • Other Matters Arising 
    • Announcements
      • DEO office is getting ready for NDEAM fair on October 1st from 10am-3pm at Michigan Union
      • View & register for DEO’s upcoming events: https://events.umich.edu/group/5177 
      • 5th Annual Wolverine Invitational — Wheelchair Basketball Tournament hosted by U-M Adaptive Sports & Fitness — Is on October 3rd-5th
      • The Neubacher Award Ceremony is scheduled for October 30th at 1pm! Stay tuned for the RSVP form!
    • Anything to share with the Council?