On Tuesday, October 19th from Noon to 1:00 PM, The Faculty Development Center is hosting a virtual discussion regarding the inquiries, implications, and insecurities of a "return to normal" and would like to invite graduate students to attend. Below is a snippet of the content of the discussion: 

• Read this opinion piece by an instructor, this article about college students, or this scholarly article about vaccine hesitancy, or...
• Watch this opinion piece by working adults, or...
• Listen to this podcast by Marketplace

Critical Social Justice: Disability Justice + Access Matters has begun! As such, we wanted to share a round up of UMBC’s on-campus disability resources.* Below are several key offices that UMBC students, faculty, staff, and community members can work with to explore accommodations, report ADA compliance issues, and/or seek assistance in combatting discrimination against people with disabilities.

Office of Student Disability Services

https://sds.umbc.edu/

8:30 – 4:30 Monday – Friday

Phone: 410-455-2459

myUMBC: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss

Email: disAbility(@)umbc.edu

UMBC’s Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) provides resources to students with disabilities, as well as those with temporarily disabling conditions and injuries, that may require accommodations in order to have equal access and full participation in all of UMBC’s programs, services, and activities. 

More on upcoming events from SDS: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss/events

Office of Accessibility and Disability Services 

accessibility.umbc.edu

9 – 5 Monday – Friday

Phone: 410-455-5745

myUMBC: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility

Email: Stephanie Lazarus, Accessibility Manager and ADA Coordinator, slazar(@)umbc.edu  

Report Campus Accessibility Concerns (email/name required): https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/

UMBC’s Office of Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) coordinatesemployeeaccommodation requests,provides for visitor access needs, and manages other ADA compliance issues (including campus accessibility concerns and digital accessibility) at UMBC.

More on upcoming events from ADS: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events

Office of Equity and Inclusion

https://oei.umbc.edu/

Phone: 410-455-1717

Email: OEI@umbc.edu

UMBC Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) Confidential Online Reporting/Referral Form (Anonymous):

https://umbc-advocate.symplicity.com/titleix_report/index.php

UMBC’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University’s core values of inclusive excellence, equity, diversity. OEI has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX as well as other civil rights issues, including discrimination, harassment, hate and bias related to protected identity classes like disability. 

OEI Anti-Discrimination Resources
https://oei.umbc.edu/non-discrimination-resources/
Includes accessibility and student academic support resources.

Other Resources:

UMBC Access Routes Map:
https://about.umbc.edu/files/2021/09/2021-UMBC-accessible-routes-map.pdf

A Progressive’s Style Guide (includes best practice style for writing about disability and the disabled community):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.sumofus.org/images/SUMOFUS_PROGRESSIVE-STYLEGUIDE.pdf

All gender restroom map:
https://about.umbc.edu/files/2019/02/ALL-GENDER-RESTROOM-MAP-2019.pdf

*This is a working list of resources; if you don’t see an office or particular program named and you believe it should be included, please email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu

From the row houses of Baltimore to the stoops of Brooklyn, the New York Times bestselling author of The Cook Up lays bare the voices of the most vulnerable and allows their stories to uncover the systematic injustice threaded within our society. Honest and eye-opening, the pages of We Speak for Ourselves “are abundant with wisdom and wit; integrity and love, not to mention enough laughs for a stand-up comedy routine” (Mitchell S. Jackson, author of Survival Math).

Watkins introduces you to Down Bottom, the storied community of East Baltimore that holds a mirror to America’s poor black neighborhoods—“hoods” that could just as easily be in Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, or Atlanta. As Watkins sees it, the perspective of people who live in economically disadvantaged black communities is largely absent from the commentary of many top intellectuals who speak and write about race.

Unapologetic and sharp-witted, D. Watkins is here to tell the truth as he has seen it. We Speak for Ourselves offers an in-depth analysis of inner-city hurdles and honors the stories therein. We sit in underfunded schools, walk the blocks burdened with police corruption, stand within an audience of Make America Great Again hats, journey from trap house to university lecture, and rally in neglected streets. And we listen.

“Watkins has come to remind us, everyone deserves the opportunity to speak for themselves” (Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author) and serves hope to fellow Americans who are too often ignored and calling on others to examine what it means to be a model activist in today’s world. We Speak for Ourselves is a must-read for all who are committed to social change.

From Amazon.com

Repost from Women’s Center. Original event post can be found HERE.

Take part in the first event of Critical Social Justice 2021-2022 and learn more about the disability justice movement. In this virtual event, we will learn about the history of disability rights in the US, the fundamental principles of disability justice, where the movement is today, and what disability justice looks like/can look like at UMBC. Regardless of your knowledge level or experience level, all are welcome to join in on this introductory conversation.

This year, CSJ: Disability Justice + Access Matters invites our campus community to learn from a perspective of disability justice so that we can continue to make space for everybody and every body now and in the future. Learn more about the Critical Social Justice: Disability Justice + Access Matters theme here. For more information about upcoming events or to inquire about collaboration, please email the Women’s Center at womenscenter@umbc.edu.

This discussion group will be hosted through Google Meet. If this platform presents accessibility challenges for you, please be in touch so we can consult on the best ways to make this experience accessible for you.

CSJ 101: Disability Justice at UMBC and Beyond

Monday, September 27 · 1:00 – 2:00pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/aud-jwnx-qvu

Or dial: (US) +1 419-702-0980 PIN: 419 177 557#

This session will be recorded.

Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. If you have difficulties accessing any of the materials on our site or any of our events or discussions, please contact us so that we can provide an alternative format and/or remedy any accessibility challenges.

“How can I join the Women’s Center?”

Well . . .

Do you hang out in our lounge? Do you come to our events? Do you read our blog or chat with our staff? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then congratulations! You are a part of the Women’s Center.

But we understand the feeling of being a part of something special. Showing your loyalty and commitment to a cause is empowering. Finding home and belonging in a space that means something to you, means something to us.

So, now, you can “join” the Women’s Center by being one of our fearless and loyal Scouts! 

The Women’s Center Scouts program began several years ago in the spirit of the Pawnee Goddesses created by our friend Leslie Knope. Maybe you’ve also heard of the Girl Scouts? Radical Monarchs? Or Lumberjanes? Our Scouts program is kind of like that. Nonetheless, there are Women’s Center badges out there waiting to be earned!

Here’s the deal. To become a Women’s Center Scout, participate in our “This or That Scout Challenge!” Each Scout must meet the challenge by completing a set of 4 different challenges outlined by the Women’s Center throughout the fall semester. The challenges include:  

• 1. Follow us on social media @womenscenterumbc on Twitter, Instagram, & on myUMBC!
  • If you’re already a member and following one of our pages, great! You’re one step closer. After following us, comment/reply to one of our posts…

• 2. Spend time in the Women’s Center!
  • Bring a friend to the Women’s Center and give them a tour!
  • OR go to one of our discussion group meetings! (Learn more by visiting our myUMBC page and visiting our discussion-based groups’ page)

• 3. Celebrate our 30th Anniversary! 
  • Attend the 30th Anniversary virtual Homecoming event on Oct. 8 @ 6 pm!
  • OR watch the 20th Anniversary of the Women’s Center video OR view the 25th Anniversary Prezi and tell a staff member one fact you learned!

• 4. Get involved with Critical Social Justice!
  • Attend at least 1 CSJ event! 9/27, 10/27, 11/4, & 11/29
  • OR ask one of our staff members for a reading recommendation on Disability Justice from our lending library!

Any UMBC community member who completes the challenge by December 1st gets a Women’s Center T-shirt and a shout-out on our social media pages!

Wear your Women’s Center t-shirt with pride. Jess and Ojus are showcasing this year’s Women’s Center t-shirt!

All UMBC students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate! Stop by the Women’s Center beginning Monday, September 27th to claim your Scout’s Card and get to work!

For questions, stop by the Women’s Center or email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu.