Developing Programming for Disability Allyship

Have you wondered about how to include disability in programming? Have you wanted to transform your programming from awareness or advocacy to allyship? Let's talk about inclusion and accessibility in approaching programmatic allyship!

Although touted for being a disability-friendly institution, disability was consistently ignored or treated differently in conversations regarding the spectrum of inclusivity and cultural awareness on our campus. When others on campus were engaging in conversations around disability, it was piecemeal, fragmented and generally unsupported. As information that ability microaggressions were increasing towards our students despite our efforts, we felt as though developing a disability ally program was absolutely imperative in improving our students’ mental health by changing the environment they are a part of.

We developed this program based on current best practices in culturally competent programming, fusing cultural awareness, intersectionality, and social-emotional connection and would like to share the disability ally program we have piloted to assist other practitioners and student affairs personnel to further include ability in every conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be:

• exposed to best practices in culturally competent programming for inclusion with ability, and where they can seek out other collaborators if they wish to incorporate ability in conversations and programming.
• exposed to activities and experiences they can consider when engaging in conversation that includes ability.
• provided a list of resources and recommendations for activities instead of disability immersion activities.