MDisability, a Department of Family Medicine-supported program, has been selected to receive a Catalyst Award by the University of Michigan Office of the Provost. The grant is among six awards that have been given to various disability-related research projects being conducted at Michigan Medicine and within various U-M schools and departments.
Professor Michael M. McKee, MD, MPH, who also serves as MDisability program director, is the principal investigator for the project, “Build it and they will come — An anti-ableist workplace to enhance our ability to advance health equity for individuals with disabilities.” The initiative supports the pursuit of new scholarship aimed at better understanding and addressing the concerns of faculty and staff on the Ann Arbor campus who have disabilities.
Project team members include:
• Assistant Professor Heidi Joshi, PsyD, Department of Family Medicine
• Assistant Professor Brianna Marzolf, DO, Department of Family Medicine and the inaugural Disability Health Fellow
• Professor Michelle Meade, Ph.D., Department of Family Medicine/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, director of Center for Disability Health & Wellness
• Assistant Professor Feranmi Okanlami, Department of Family Medicine/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/Urology/Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Student Life
MDisability members stated in their application that in the 2016 University of Michigan Faculty Campus Climate Survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 3.5% percent of faculty members self-reported a disability. While the survey overlooked staff members and was not specific to Michigan Medicine, it demonstrated ongoing ableist attitudes at U-M. Faculty with disabilities were 73% more likely to report discrimination at U-M compared to their non-disabled peers.
In line with U-M's DEI 2.0’s goal of a diverse campus where everyone can succeed, the MDisability team proposes a multi-phase project to identify workplace sources of ableism and pilot interventions to cultivate an anti-ableism workplace culture for Michigan Medicine faculty and staff with disabilities.
Phase one will include a comprehensive needs assessment surveying all 29 Michigan Medicine departments to gather data on the experiences of faculty and staff members with disabilities. This will be followed by focus groups to both explain survey findings and provide deeper insights into barriers and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities at Michigan Medicine.
Phase two will focus on an anti-ableism work culture by developing a resource page outlining how to obtain disability-related support and information to thrive in a workplace; offering a mentor-mentee match based on disability and work background; and implementing an anti-ableism workshop designed for diverse Michigan Medicine settings.
“We believe these efforts will lead to a greater understanding of ableism at Michigan Medicine and will empower and educate the medical community to foster greater diversity,” McKee said. “We are grateful that the Office of the Provost has recognized our project’s importance. This support will allow us to identify and address ableism, through resources, mentorship and training. This will also help us with our goal of being able to better meet the health care needs of our increasingly diverse patient population, especially those with disabilities.”
The Office of the Provost noted that all awarded projects align with existing efforts to strengthen the institutional commitment to an inclusive and accessible campus, and embrace a broad definition of disability, which includes mental, physical, sensory and cognitive differences.
“The response to our Disability Scholarship Initiative has been remarkable, highlighting the deep well of expertise and passion within our academic community,” said Provost Laurie McCauley. “As these innovative projects take shape, they will do more than advance scholarship. They’ll fundamentally transform how we support and empower our colleagues with disabilities.”
ALSO READ: The original award announcement by the Office of the Provost.
