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ViewAttendees 22

Education Session

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB)

Unveiling Invisibility: STEM Perspectives on Living With Invisible Disabilities

Friday, October 25, 2024
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM CT
Location: MPCCW - 183 A
An invisible disability is any physical, mental, or emotional impairment that is not immediately obvious including cognitive, pain, hearing, and mental health conditions. 11% of the US population has a disability. Women and non-binary people face unique challenges in diagnosis and care for their disabilities. Bodies assigned female at birth are less represented in healthcare research, leading to underrecognized symptoms and less effective treatment. Gender biases can influence healthcare professionals' behavior, such as downplaying women’s pain. Despite STEM’s lower unemployment rate (2.7% vs 3.7% in the general US labor force), disabled engineers and scientists face a higher unemployment rate (5.3%) due to educational barriers, unaccommodating workplaces, and societal stigma. In this panel, our speakers will discuss their diverse experiences with disability, their diagnosis journey, and life impacts. They will share advice for gaining accommodations, coping mechanisms, and fostering supportive environments in workplaces and schools.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore the range of disabilities and the challenges faced by disabled women and non-binary people.
  • Develop strategies for advocating for yourself or others in navigating disability challenges from diagnosis, treatment, and accommodations at work/school.
  • Foster inclusive environment in STEM fields and beyond via policies, accommodations, and cultural shifts to reduce stigma and improve opportunities for people with disabilities.