Presentations & Workshops

Knowledge/Skill Level: Beginner

Whether you were born with a disability, acquired a disability, or received a diagnosis that revealed why you encounter certain barriers in life—living with disability can be a turbulent experience mentally and emotionally. The LSA Disability Navigators are facilitating small group discussions for LSA employees (faculty and staff, including student workers) who want space to process their experiences and seek advice from a group of peers who also live with disability.

Participants:
1. Learn about the 7 stages of disability acceptance.
2. Explore how to incorporate disability into your identity in a healthy way.
3. Receive coaching on the disclosure process and how to foster a support network.
4. Crowdsource resources and advice for navigating work and life with a disability.

Disclosure of disability is not required or expected to participate. Participants may share as much—or as little—about their personal situation as they are comfortable. Participants agree to respect each other's privacy and to not share others' identities or details of their lives outside of the discussion session.

Knowledge/Skill Level: Beginner

As we shift from print to digital documents in the workplace, it's important to ensure readers and contributors can actually access the content. If document users include individuals who are color blind, use assistive technologies, or process information differently, will they be able to effectively engage with the content? This workshop will focus on best practices for creating digital documents that are more user-friendly and accessible. In addition to demonstrations, there will be opportunities to apply what you are learning in real time. 

Participants learn about:

1. The benefit of accessible documents and how specific features support diverse users.
2. How to build more accessible documents in Microsoft Word and Google Documents. 
   • Specific components discussed include: Color, Font, Paragraph Styles, Lists, Images, Tables, Hyperlinks, Headers & Footers, Spacing, Emojis & Symbols, and Document Settings.
3. Tools to assist with document accessibility.
4. Resources to deepen knowledge on document accessibility.

A recording of this workshop is available through the LSA Gateway. If you are unable to access Gateway, please email LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu to request access. 

Knowledge/Skill Level: Beginner

Images and graphics can be powerful tools to communicate information and enhance text content. But some individuals—such as those who are Blind, low vision, or use read aloud technologies—may miss out on important details if our visuals are not accessible.  

This workshop will teach you how to craft effective "alternative text" (alt text) and how to add alt text to images to make them more accessible. We'll also discuss how to describe image content, including diverse humans, in a way that is inclusive and context appropriate.

Participants learn:

1. What alt text is, why it is important, and who benefits from it.
2. Image types that are not accessible and workarounds.
3. How to craft effective alt text for images based upon the image type and function.
4. Best practices for describing diverse people and situations depicted in images in an inclusive way.
5. How to add alt text to images in Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, and Google Slides.
   

A recording of this workshop is available through the LSA Gateway. If you are unable to access Gateway, please email LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu to request access. 

Knowledge/Skill Level: Beginner

Neurodiversity is the new hot topic in the realm of disability inclusion and accessibility—and with good reason. A significant percentage of people are now recognized as having neurotypes that are not well supported by societal norms and our collective understanding of how to communicate across and support neurodiversity is still developing. Fortunately researchers, educators, and advocates who identify as neurodivergent are contributing to a growing body of best practices.

Join the LSA Faculty & Staff Disability Navigators to learn about neurodiversity and how we can all start creating more neuroinclusive workplaces.

Participants learn:

1. What neurodiversity is and how the concept has evolved over time.
2. How neurodiversity shapes our experiences, behaviors, aptitudes, and understanding of the world.
3. How contemporary work norms can exclude and create barriers for a range of neurotypes.
4. Neuroinclusive practices we can proactively integrate into our workplaces.
5. How to access relevant resources and support.
   

Knowledge/Skill Level: Beginner

How do we foster an inclusive work environment where employees feel heard and safe to share, even during times of disagreement?

Join the LSA Faculty and Staff Disability Navigators as they unravel the art of fostering psychologically safe communication and accessible conflict management within the workplace. This workshop will explore the nuances of exchanging ideas and providing feedback in professional settings, including strategies for communicating with folks across different neurotypes, disabilities, and diverse lived experiences. 

Participants:
1. Learn how different communication styles may be perceived during conflicts or disagreements based upon neurotype, disability status, and lived experience.
2. Explore ways to turn conflict into constructive learning experiences that can enhance both personal and team development.
3. Obtain advice on how to accessibly approach performance management conversations.
4. Leave with a guide to addressing conflict in psychologically safe workspaces and additional psychological saftey resources.