December 2025 Meeting

Meeting Date
  • Opening quotation 
    • “Listening to the perspectives of those with lived experience is key to understanding that disability is not a problem to solve but part of the total human experience to embrace”
      • Keith Jones
  • Agenda 
    • Review communication survey results:
    • Communication strategy for CfDC
      • Preferred communication method
        • Email: 58%
          • People who preferred email preferred it because they frequently check it and it is easy to work into their lives.
          • People who did not prefer email stated that they are already receiving too many emails.
          • Another option is to integrate google spaces into our communications.
        • Slack: 47%
          • What is slack: a communication tool that allows you to make different channels for communication that allows for personalization and conversation specialization.
            • Pros of Slack: UM ITS operates Slack allowing for easy to access tech support, allows you to limit your involvement and how you would like to express yourself.
            • People who preferred Slack preferred it because it avoids email clutter.
            • People who did not prefer Slack stated it was because they are unfamiliar with it and it has a learning curve to be meaningfully involved.
        • Discord: 17%
        • Google workspace: 15%
        • Signal: 11%
        • Facebook: 6%
        • Whatsapp: 2%
      • Types of CfDC Communication
        • Announcements
          • Communication we have in place
            • Examples: newsletters, meeting sharing, follow-ups, etc.
        • Informal conversation between council members
          • Options for this:
            • Separate opt-in email group with informal discussions
              • With email digest option
            • Google spaces/G-chat
            • Slack channels
            • Combinations of any of the above options
          • Important considerations
            • If we open an informal conversation space we should have a summary of the conversations in the meeting so members who would not like to opt in can still stay up to date.
    • Feedback from members:
      • LSA technology services started using Slack
        • Upsides of using Slack
          • Easier to use
          • Has channels 
          • Allows for less email chaos
          • Allows for more fun and personal conversations
          • Has been highly effective
          • Customizable alert systems
        • Email should be used for formal and major announcements
        • Caution against google anything
          • Google is unstable and the resources don’t exist permanently
      • Some of these options are costly or unsafe. Anything owned by Facebook/Meta is a significant privacy risk. Some of these will require training or tech support for people with some disabilities to use them successfully. Some of them are ephemeral. If an app disappears, will it allow us to export and archive content, and if so, at the group level or only at the personal level? We also need to consider which apps are accessible by police, security, administration, government, etc. and under what circumstances.
        • Can we export and move our content? Can we make sure it can be saved in other places?
        • Would we be able to duplicate and save the information in order to make sure people aren’t left out of the conversation.
        • Reasons for using the resources we have proposed
          • Different access needs
          • Information will probably be need to be duplicated across multiple channels
          • Slack is not accessible for this member. Does not work for their workflow. 
            • Wants all slack messaging to be sent through an email because they have their settings at the most accessible for them.
          • Who has access to what content?
            • Some people feel unsafe to present their ideas, thoughts, experiences, etc. in a group that can be tracked by the University
            • Anyone can join, any one can monitor, and this is an issue if we are not checking this.
              • Can be addressed by allowing non-UM people being allowed
            • Slack cannot be made accessible to our community partners
            • Vote for multiple solutions
      • Security
        • Keep in mind that the University is a public entity, and any University-hosted resources are subject to FOIA
        • Zoom is not a secure platform, if we want to emphasize security
      • Looks like there's a Slack plugin for Outlook Slack for Outlook | Slack Marketplace
      • Slack is more accessible than other options. Have more functions for accessibility 
        • If a member with concerns writes exactly what they would like and sends it to Jane Berliss-Vincent IT will look into what they can do. Below is a chat about this issue with concerns:
          • The main functionality I want from Slack is a way to “subscribe” to channels via email, so that I get alerts and know when I need to log in. My computer crashes a lot and I can’t keep Slack open. Currently, I only get emails when someone specifically tags me. That’s minimal.
            • During COVID, this was a feature that Slack allowed.  Did it go away?
            • Maybe I just need to be shown how to get it going? Discord does this for me automatically. Slack has not
            • Based on a non-UM channel I belong to that is CONSTANTLY emailing me, it should still be there. I'll look into this and write up instrux.
        • We would need to set up a channel that allows for external participation
      • Slack is hosted externally, but if it's linked to our University credentials, that could be a grey area.
      • Non-UMich people can be brought into UMich Slack channels:  https://documentation.its.umich.edu/invite-to-slack 
      • Multiple avenues wanted. Slack is a good option to have but we should have at least one alternative platform.
        • Should this be email? Google space?
          • Google has accessibility problems.
          • Email avoids adding another space
          • I think email is a great way to share information with the group. Slack is a great supplement for ongoing, informal chat to stay in touch.
      • Externally and privately hosted web-based message board that has email digest options?
        • That sounds a lot like Discord, which is similar to Slack and used by a lot of disability communities
        • I have concerns about Discord's data collection policies (but not serious enough that I don't use it)
        • Yes, those shifted over the past year. Awkward
      • I don't like having a conversation on Slack if everyone isn't involved.
      • And I will just throw in that I monitor email, gchat, and slack and just don't have the spoons for another avenue
        • That is part of my problem with Slack
        • I’m tracking Gmail, MichMail, X, Bluesky, threads, Discord, instagram, … and Slack is just too much work to get what I want out of it
      • Slack can leave out people because not everyone uses it. No matter what we do it is going to require something new for at least someone in our group
      • Some people dislike microsoft teams
      • Some UMICH teams have both google and microsoft spaces that makes it difficult but works
      • There are very few people with the ability to monitor these channels
        • Identify community champions who will take responsibility for taking information from each channel and announce it on email.
      • To be practical, a summary feature would need to be automated.
      • Slack has a lot of apps that we can use to make the space more accessible and integrate with email
      • Trouble switching between slack channels
        • Private and confidential channel in CfDC is something to think about
        • Trouble accessing certain slack channels and messages
        • We have to ask and answer a lot of questions before we lock into anything.
      • Privacy and confidentiality are extremely hard to achieve online.
        • Some people really care about this.
        • If we focus too much on this we will not make any progress
      • Multiple platforms concerns some council members
        • Strong recommendation against it. Prefer a summary on email versus multiple chat spaces.
      • Slack channels show up in one window for some users. Fixing your own settings can allow for personal communication preferences to be set as wanted. 
      • I think next steps should be to identify some individuals who can lead the setup of Slack. Some topics that they might discuss: 1. Logistics (organization, notifications), 2. Community guidelines & moderators/managers 3. Onboarding & accessibility
        • Some disagreement here
          • Instead the next step should be more conversations and planning.
      • Summary tools and Michigan medicine
        • Some of the Michigan Medicine leadership are against summary tools because it is a breach of privacy to use AI tools
        • Some AI tools are not actually representative of the conversation that occurred.
      • I was actually thinking more old-school Listserv, rather than AI summary
        • I was thinking the same, similar to some other listservs I am on
      • If anyone ever has any legal questions pertaining to workplace/ADA issues, Anna Kozak at Morgan & Morgan is a good resource. Her email is [email protected].  She said anyone that reaches out is protected by attorney-client privilege and would remain anonymous, and that speaking with an attorney is also a protected activity. Morgan is a very large firm that has represented UM employees in ADA cases in the past, so they're a great resource.
    • General comments and concerns
      • Want to invite community members back in, especially in the new digital communities. 
        • We want to hear their voices again.
    • If you would like to help set up the new communication method please email the admins at [email protected] 
  • Work Connections Town Hall meeting update
    • So many people with similar stories and issues.
      • Widespread issues
    • Michigan Medicine has an employee resource group for people with disabilities
      • Disability and Chronic conditions ERG
      • Many people part of the disability community fear joining because they will be identified as a member of the community and be forced out.
        • A need for allies to join in order for the group to consider to exist
        • Join using this email: [email protected] 
    • Concerns about retaliation and discrimination
      • Threats of termination are occurring
      • Widespread issue
    • 2 regents were at this meeting
      • They were understanding but they didn't make rules and they only represented a small percentage of regents. 
      • Change through regents is limited
    • The conversation was focused on people who experienced (severe) injuries 
      • Less focus on disability and recovery
      • Concern that many people are not public about their disability status because of fear of discrimination
        • Disabilities and chronic conditions both. Especially hidden/invisible disabilities.
      • Felt like the basis of work connections was a nurse would evaluate you and decide whether or not you could keep your job
    • Not recorded or transcribed due to privacy
    • Most of the folk I know who actually liked Work Connections were encouraged to take early retirement, and like being retired
    • Michigan is a one party state meaning you are allowed to record conversations with employers in person.
    • The team that hosted the Work Connections Town hall is putting together resources please pass anything along to Pam if wanted!
  • Other Matters Arising 
    • Announcements
    • Anything to share with the Council?