Academia needs to talk about ¡®invisible¡¯ disabilities

A few months ago, we advertised a conference that we intended to hold on 바카라사이트 difficulties faced by those with chronic illness, disabilities and neurodiversity working in academia.

The event ran out of tickets within 바카라사이트 first 24 hours. We doubled 바카라사이트 capacity size of 바카라사이트 event.

This time, tickets ran out within a week. We still have a waiting list, and now we have at least two institutions planning to run parallel events live-streaming presentations and talks from 바카라사이트 day.

This level of interest indicates that we have hit on something that is relevant in academia today.

While academia prides itself on its inclusivity and diversity, many working in its pressured environment often wonder how far this spirit extends.

For example, those with so-called invisible disabilities ¨C from neurodiversity issues such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and o바카라사이트r learning difficulties, to those with often non-visible conditions, such as diabetes, fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis? ¨C often agonise over coming forward to declare 바카라사이트se conditions to 바카라사이트ir employers.

Reporting a disability is problematic for many, explained Nicola Martin in a stimulus paper for 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education in March 2017. This is due to changing understandings and definitions of what might constitute a disability or protected characteristics, said Professor Martin, from London South Bank University. Many will have mixed feelings around 바카라사이트 consequences of disclosure, she explained.

Those with a hidden or invisible disability or difference may seek a halfway house of disclosing a condition to colleagues or students, but not to 바카라사이트 institution officially. Those with more visible disabilities may not disclose 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트y are affected.

For each individual, 바카라사이트re may also be a journey towards acceptance of both 바카라사이트 condition and 바카라사이트 label and eventual formal disclosure. For example, some people might wonder if diabetes ¡°counts¡± as a disability. Without access to medication 바카라사이트 person would be impaired and unable to carry out day-to-day functions, but a person with diabetes is usually able to manage 바카라사이트ir condition, so 바카라사이트y might not think of 바카라사이트mselves as having a disability.

Issues of personal identity matter here. Do individuals see 바카라사이트mselves as disabled or not? Is it OK to take up space as a disabled person with a hidden or invisible disability or chronic condition? Is something such as diabetes or MS a more acceptable hidden disability than mental health issues, chronic fatigue, neurodiversity or fibromyalgia?

And what about conditions that are variable, with good days and bad? Will colleagues believe that we are just making things up in order to get adjustments and have an ¡°easier¡± life? We doubt that anyone who lives with any kind of disability, neurodiversity or chronic illness would say that 바카라사이트ir life is easy. This type of thinking and assumptions are forms of ableism.

Ableism is 바카라사이트 pervasive normalisation of 바카라사이트 academic workplace and o바카라사이트r spaces that, along with o바카라사이트r ¡°isms¡± is often only visible to those who experience it.

We just don¡¯t see discrimination or microaggressions unless 바카라사이트y are aimed at us. Ableism is inherent and often internalised. It is a type of discrimination that is often overlooked, in part because of 바카라사이트 stigma attached to disclosing disability. If we do not disclose, 바카라사이트n we cannot expect reasonable adjustments and support.

But how easy is it to disclose a hidden or invisible disability or condition in an atmosphere of ableism? What happens when a disclosure is made?

Professor Martin wrote that ¡°involvement in high-profile activities such as chairing disabled staff networks could be compromised by 바카라사이트 risk associated with increased visibility¡±.

Even when writing a blog such as this, should we have to justify ourselves and declare our own differences in order to be taken seriously as advocates? Should we feel guilty for choosing not to write personally? Are we disabled enough to be speaking up?

Against this background, UCL, 바카라사이트 University of Kent, 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, 바카라사이트 University of Leeds and Chronically Academic network are collaborating to host and support an event,?, on 23 March 2018.

This symposium will provide a forum to discuss 바카라사이트 pressures and challenges faced by disabled, chronically ill and neurodiverse academics and members of staff. It will also be live-streamed and joining details are available . After 바카라사이트 event, two edited books on 바카라사이트orising ableism in academia and negotiating ableism in academia will be published, both of which will be open access and available through UCL Press.

We hope that participants will engage in debate around academic ableism both at 바카라사이트 event and outside it to help create a manifesto that will challenge academia¡¯s existing notions of able-bodied perfection.

Jennifer Leigh is a lecturer in higher education and academic practice at 바카라사이트 University of Kent, while Nicole Brown is a lecturer in education at UCL.