October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) — an annual recognition and celebration of the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. Established by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, the theme of this year’s celebration is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
Here at UC, we take pride in the diversity of our workforce and celebrate the contributions and partnership of colleagues with all levels of abilities. Here are three ways you can mark NDEAM this year.
1. Update your employment status in UCPath
If you experience a disability, take a moment to update the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form in UCPath. To get started, sign in to your UCPath account and go to Employee Actions > Personal Information > Disability Status. Here’s some additional context.
2. Watch a video on NDEAM
The U.S. Department of Labor has created a fun and informative video on the importance of NDEAM. Check it out below.
3. Explore stories of UC community members with disabilities
Learning more about our colleagues’ experiences can enrich our own. Take a moment to read the following stories from staff throughout UC.
UC Berkeley
- Can an aquifer be injured? Scholar brings a disability lens to ecological repair
- Fred Herzer: Looking back without sight
- How haptics and audio have given disabled patrons close access to the arts via SF Classical Voice
- With newly digitized slave ship logs, Berkeley Ph.D. student examines race, power — and literacy via Berkeley News
UCLA
- Disabilities and Computing Program Blog
- From ankle injury to solutions: A champion for visible and invisible disabilities
- UCLA’s Michael Garafola is bringing adaptive sports to the mainstream
UCSF
4. Attend a virtual disability-focused event
The All Access employee resource group at Berkeley Lab comprises and represents individuals with disabilities and their allies. Join them for an event this month via Zoom.
Neurodiversity and Inclusive Excellence
On Oct. 22, from 10 – 11 a.m. (PT), Courtney Castleman Bucher, M.A., a disability specialist at UC Berkeley, will speak about disability language and culture, models of disability, ableism, inclusive excellence, neurodivergences, common resources and accommodations, and more.
Zoom link for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Excellence
Meeting ID: 931 4364 0375 | Passcode: 061066
Mentioning the Unmentionable — The Language of Disability
On Oct. 29, from 1 – 2 p.m. (PT), the Lab’s favorite linguist, Greta Vollmer, Ph.D., professor emerita at Sonoma State University, will share an overview of discourse and social interaction around disability, as well as the historical evolution of key terms over time. Zoom information will be announced soon on this page.
Getting Started with SiteImprove
Join us for a two-part workshop on Oct. 30, from 2 – 3 p.m., and Nov. 14, from 1 – 2 p.m. (PT),
to learn how to make your website more accessible. We’ll cover the basics of digital accessibility and go over how to use SiteImprove, a tool underwritten by UC, to identify issues and monitor your progress. Registering in advance for a SiteImprove account is recommended.
Zoom link for Getting Started with SiteImprove
Meeting ID: 958 7421 6619
NDEAM Special Interest Lightning Talks
On Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. (PT), don’t miss the virtual Special Interest Lightning Talks event. Volunteer speakers will present three-minute talks on a variety of topics that they enjoy. Join us to learn something new and celebrate info-dumping — a form of communication that many neurodivergent people enjoy and use to share information about their special interests! Sign up to be a speaker.
Zoom link for Special Interest Lightning Talks
Meeting ID: 950 3286 0511
Passcode: 208590
Did we miss something from your location?
To add an event or story from your UC location, please send details and/or a URL to ucnetwork@universityofcalifornia.edu.