Disability Staff and Faculty Association (DSFA)
The UW Disability Staff and Faculty Association (DSFA) launched in the 2023-2024 academic year to support our vibrant community for faculty and staff who identify as disabled, including: D/deaf or hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, chronically ill, Mad, neurodivergent, or experiencing mental health concerns. Allies of the disability community are also welcome. Join us in building a supportive environment that honors disability as an important part of diversity.
The DSFA is more than an affinity group; it’s a movement towards a more equitable and compassionate University of Washington. Your voice and your experiences enrich us all. Join us on this journey to reshape the UW community for the better.
Our Mission
By fostering community connections and offering vital resources, together we can cultivate empowerment and belonging for all.
Our aim is more than mere inclusion; it’s about creating a culture that elevates diverse experiences and perspectives. We center the social model of disability and adhere to the principles of disability justice, disability culture, disability allyship, and disability gain. We consider disability, neurodivergence, and chronic health and mental health concerns as valuable facets of diversity.
Our Objectives
To address the underrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in higher education, their lower likelihood of degree completion, and the broader challenges they face—including economic hardship and poor health outcomes—we aim to enrich our workplace through:
- Inclusive Design: Advocate for the adoption of inclusive design principles across the UW campus.
- Diverse Representation: Ensure that disabled-identifying staff and faculty, including those with complex intersectional identities, feel supported and celebrated.
- Community Building: Foster a robust, welcoming community through role models and varied support mechanisms.
How We Operate
We understand that accessibility means different things to different people and are dedicated to offering a variety of options to engage, participate, and cultivate a sense of community, always centering on the access needs of our members.
DSFA is managed by the Leadership Team consisting of committee chairs and a few key at-large positions. The Team meets bi-monthly or more to consider and assure the group’s mission is moving forward. Please reach out to us if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns at dsfa@uw.edu.
Current Events
Employees Group Gathering – come chat with members from the Employee Support Committee every second Thursday at 12:00 over Zoom. Reach out to dsfa@uw.edu for the Zoom link.
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved including event planning or hosting, communications/marketing, employee outreach, employee support and more. If you have a specific skill you want to share or develop, please let us know at dsfa@uw.edu. Committee members serve two-quarter terms.
Employee Support Committee – We are working on building community. Online, in Zoom, and at events, we gather to share experiences, resources, and comradery. We help each other navigate getting leave or accommodations, and with life or office hacks. If you can be a supportive ear and/or help with ideas and solutions, please let us know.
Change Makers Committee – We are dedicated to making the UW a more inclusive place for those with disabilities to work. We are currently looking at priorities and opportunities to influence UW culture and policy. We need people to help brainstorm challenges and solutions and then advocate for change. We meet monthly.
Events Committee – We plan both large all-UW events (such as the moving screening of Ride Ahead) and small events both in-person and virtually. We are also creating an event accessibility guide. We are looking for members to help plan events. We meet monthly.
Communications Committee – This year, we plan to send a quarterly newsletter, post regular messages on Teams, and send welcome emails to new members. We also create materials for events and other committees. New and experienced communications/marketing professionals are welcome to join. We meet monthly.
Administration Committee – Each committee can use a person to help take notes, schedule meetings, and other administrative tasks. The administration committee gets administrators from the other committees together to streamline, communicate, and share best practices. If you are interested in helping this way, please let us know.
Resources
Coming Soon – a list of various resources on issues related to disabilities, accessibilities, and inclusion. In the meantime, our Teams channels offer a community to share resources, assistance opportunities, and accessibility tips. Join DSFA to get access to the Teams channels or email dsfa@uw.edu for assistance.
The Launch Team
A small team of faculty and staff began working in 2022 to establish DSFA as an official UW employee affinity group. Meet the team.