Updated Mission & Vision
The Disabled Staff and Faculty Coalition is a community group at the University of Arizona centered on the mission to uplift and expand efforts for accessibility and belonging. Our community group intentionally centers the leadership and experiences of all disabled staff and faculty* at the University of Arizona.
We work toward this mission of cultivating community space (in-person and virtually) by holding meet-up events, hosting our annual Disability Studies conference, and collaborating across community groups to host professional & social events throughout the year. As collectively decided when creating the University of Arizona’s disability logo, our community group works to promote “Access. Unity. Community”.
*Our coalition is a space for all staff and faculty at the University of Arizona. You do not need to be registered with DRC or have medical documentation to join. This includes D/deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill individuals; those with sensory, psychiatric, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities; and those seeking mental health care and support.
Goals of the DSFC
We aim to provide a unified voice for disabled faculty and staff in order to:
- Create opportunities for disabled faculty and staff to gather with peers, have a place where disability is not the “other”, and create a community of connection and belonging
- Promote an environment of access, inclusion, and equity for all disabled populations of faculty, staff, and visitors
- Provide models of access, advocacy, and inclusion for disabled students
- Increasing understanding of disability culture and communities and their significance
History of DSFC & Current Programming
The Disabled Staff and Faculty Coalition was established in 2022 at the University of Arizona as part of the multiple community groups for staff and faculty on campus.
Our community group has since created our annual signature program through the University of Arizona’s Disability Studies Conference “Highlighting Disability Scholarship, Art, & Activism”. The conference is held every year in April and features undergraduate and graduate students, university staff & faculty, and community scholars, artists, and activists from Southern Arizona. The call for submissions is announced at the end of each Fall semester.
This programming has grown out of efforts at the University of Arizona from the Disability Studies Initiative, established in 2004. The intention of this conference is to recognize and celebrate students, faculty, and staff – together with community scholars, writers, artists & activists doing work in Disability Studies in Tucson/Southern Arizona.
Our conference is fully volunteer-led and run by our planning committee each year. Any member of the University or Tucson community is welcome to join us in co-creating this space to build community, share knowledge, and present our work.
How to get involved?
Fill out our Google Form if you are interested in joining our virtual meetups
Join our slack group request form here. Note that the request intermittently needs to be renewed. Please contact Sav directly if a new link is needed.
Our current co-leads & points of contact
Sav Schlauderaff, PhD (they/them) - Lead Access Consultant, Disability Resource Center; Instructor, Disability & Psychoeducational Studies and W.A. Franke Honors College
Campus & Community Resources and Partnerships