The ACRL Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee is organizing a special topic panel discussion on the lived experiences and perspectives of library workers with disabilities in academic libraries. This panel seeks to share ways the field could improve accessibility and inclusion in academic libraries. The guided discussion will be moderated by Katie Quirin Manwiller, Education Librarian at West Chester University. She is chronically ill and dynamically disabled. The panel will consist of 4-5 panelists responding to pre-determined questions that will be shared with them beforehand.
Prospective panelists should be comfortable with sharing their lived-experience as academic library workers with disabilities. All panelists will receive an honorarium for their valuable time and efforts.
The panel is projected to be held virtually in early June 2024. The format will include brief introductions of the panelists, followed by a moderated discussion, and finally, Q&A session with the audience. Live captioning services will be available.
If you are interested in participating as a panelist, please fill out this Google form by March 29, 2024. We appreciate your interest in being part of our panel discussion and will review all submissions carefully. We hope to include as wide a range of disability experience and intersectional identities as possible. We strongly encourage anyone who has not presented on this topic before to apply. Selected panelists will be contacted via email with further details by April 5, 2024.
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Silvia Vong
Assistant Professor
ISchool, University of Toronto
She/Her/Hers
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