Hi everyone!
Welcome to our first edition of this newsletter. We started this email list because we’re co-editing a book, but we also want this newsletter to serve as a stand-alone resource! We’re aiming to publish monthly-ish.
Image description: a wave with bright blue water is breaking in the background, overlaid with “Uncharted"
Uncharted territory: book publishing
First though, in case you are unfamiliar with our book:
We are under contract with Columbia University Press for our book, Uncharted: how scientists navigate health, research, and bias. The book highlights the experiences of scientists who have faced differences in their path, including both successes and challenges, because of their health. It is not a review of the science behind our health conditions: instead, it is a collection of deeply personal perspectives and views shared by the people behind the science. It shares not only health challenges, but the joys, sorrows, humor, and wonder from people who love science. We are excited to be working with about 30 contributing authors from around the world!
No book could ever encompass “the disabled experience in science” because there is no such thing! We all have different perspectives, so we wish we could share thousands of stories. For now, you can expect this newsletter to be an outlet for some stories that won’t be in our book. If you’re interested in sharing a personal story in the newsletter, let us know!
October 2020: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?!
NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). It’s a great time to think about disability employment issues and celebrate the varied contributions of disabled people. Here are a few related resources and initiatives we’ve been enjoying:
Article: Adobe Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month With Several Internal Initiatives
Twitter account: Disabled Empowerment In Higher Education Month (@DisInHigherEd)
Twitter hashtag: #DisabledRollCall
Online workshop: Gender, the Body, and Fieldwork symposium
Article: Redefining the scientific conference to be more inclusive – Physics World
To our disabled subscribers: don’t forget that your expertise is valuable and you should always be fairly compensated for your time (this month and every month).