“We are part of an incredible community.”
Dr. Michele Cooke is a Professor and the Graduate Program Director in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Geosciences. She shared the following speech as this year’s recipient of the Inclusive Geoscience Education and Research (IGER) Award from the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD). We are sharing it with her permission so that her powerful words can reach even more people. You can read more of her work at The Mind Hears.
I believe that I may be the first disabled recipient of the IGER and I’d like to say a few words from that perspective. I’ve been on both sides of the desk – both requesting accommodations and figuring out how to make my courses more inclusive. Some of us here also have that dual perspective, while others may have only experienced one side of the desk …. So far.
To allies: Thank you for all that you do to make your courses more inclusive and your research to make geosciences more inclusive. Your efforts inspire conversations that are moving the needle in our field. The IAGD as a whole has gotten on the radar of decision makers, which means that the accommodation of folks with disabilities is more proactive and less reactionary. Groups are starting to plan a priori how to make their programs more accessible instead of waiting for someone to request accommodation. Our field is on the right path thanks to your efforts.
Growing up with a disability, you can be surrounded by helpers, doctors, speech therapists, vocational rehab case workers, disability services case workers. When they are helping us, the balance of power rests with them. They assess us and decide what is best for us. They get paid for doing their jobs and they get rewarded in back pats for doing good work for the disabled. One of the most radical things that our allies at universities can do is to reject this patronizing framework of service. Center disabled folks. There is a lot of work to do, the disability tax on us is high and crip voices are not always listened to. We need you to advocate for us and we need you center our perspectives and amplify our voices.
Lastly, I have some thoughts for my crip comrades here.
Look at you! Look at us!
We have worked so damned hard to be where we are. For all the times that someone else prescribed what was best for you, for all the times that someone said you didn’t belong, for all the times that you wanted to participate in something inaccessible to you, the times that managing your energy meant not doing what you wanted – know that I feel you. We feel you. You are not alone. These experiences lie at the heart of disability culture. The experiences are echoed with the social media hashtag #WhyDisabledStudentDropOut.
You are part of an amazing community that shares experiences of microaggressions, medical trauma, crip tax and neglect and weaves these experiences into stories that empower and inspire change. We are part of an incredible community.
We got this!
You got this!
Book progress:
If you’re new here, this newsletter exists because Skylar and Gabi are editing a book with stories from scientists with disabilities. We are both entirely new to book publishing, so we’re trying to share some behind-the-scenes information as the book comes together. This month, we have been working on editing first drafts from our incredibly talented authors. Their stories have made us laugh, cry, and rage, and we really can’t wait to share them. Next up is completing edits of those first drafts and moving on to second drafts.
What we’re reading and watching:
Although Skylar and Gabi are both scientists, we still love hearing the stories of disabled people in other fields and professions. Here are a few of the articles, videos, and audio stories we’re enjoying.
Author Details 'Living With Death' And Embracing Life With A Heart Condition, NPR Shots. Format: audio and written article
‘Crip Camp’ producer on social impact, working with the Obamas, Good Morning America. Format: interview video with captions, no audio description.
How to Be a Better Ally, With Disability Advocate Alice Wong, Life Hacker. Format: audio interview with written highlights and a PDF transcript.
If you come across more articles and videos that you think we would like, feel free to reply to this email with a link.
Thank you for supporting this project! We hope you can enjoy the last few weeks of this terrible year as much as possible.
Gabi and Skylar