Last year GSIs and GSSAs, through our labor union, negotiated a new contract with the University that covers our wages, benefits, and working conditions (see contract.umgeo.org). Not only did we win raises to our salary and maintain our current benefits, but we also won, for the first time, a clear process through which GSIs or GSSAs with disabilities could apply for accommodations for their work (see it here). The University has now implemented this new process. For more information, please see Rackham’s new website for Accommodations for Graduate Students with Disabilities.
If you or someone you know has a disability or serious medical condition and would like to apply for an accommodation for your work as a GSI or GSSA, please follow the procedures on Rackham’s new website. Grads have many options in the process: they can talk to their direct supervisor, or to an administrative designee within their own school or college, or to the central office itself, run by Darlene Ray-Johnson (phone at (734) 936-1647), the Rackham Disability Coordinator.
If you are having any difficulties with the new process or have additional questions, please feel free to ask your GEO steward, or email the GEO Grievance Committee at grrr@geo3550.org.
Also, be sure to check out this event:
“What: Allies for Disability Awareness February Event
When: Thursday, February 16th Time: 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Where: Educational Conference Center (ECC), School of Social Work Building (SSWB)
Description: This event is designed as a forum to connect students with disabilities and their allies. This month’s theme is cross-cultural perspectives of disability.
We are interested in how different cultures view the idea of disability, and how our cultures influence how we, as individuals, perceive/interact with people with disabilities.
The event will include a brief intergroup dialogue session, video presentation, and trivia contest. Prizes will be awarded to winners of the contest!
Free food and drinks from around the world will be served!
This event is being put together by the student group: Allies for Disability Awareness (http://www.umich.edu/~adaco), and is sponsored in part by:
- University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School
- University of Michigan School of Social Work
- Bill McKeachie, Professor Emeritus, UM Department of Psychology
Questions may be directed to: disabilityallies@umich.edu
Please feel free to forward this information on to anyone who may have an interest in attending.
Thank you!
Allies for Disability Awareness Community Organizing Team”
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