Employee Disability and Neurodiversity Affinity Group

Invitation to join us

This group is open to any current and former University of Oregon employees or graduate students who are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, blind, or have other identities they or others may define as a disability or impairment, with or without a formal diagnosis. We welcome people who experience chronic illness, fatigue, and pain; anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions; self-manage medications, mobility, task organization, and immunity risks; and contend with others’ expectations of our bodies and minds. EDNA meets both online and in person and implements Universal Design principles.

Why you might join us

A warm welcome if you are seeking any of the following:

• An accessible meeting space for community-building and a launching pad for activism around disabilities, accessibility, universal design, and related topics at UO
• A means to share experiences, find respite and acceptance, commiserate, and celebrate

What EDNA does:

We have two main goals. You may be interested in one or both.

1. Battling ableism at UO by changing systems and structures to be fully inclusive and equitable through collective discussion, advocacy, and protest around issues that impact any or all of our members. We develop and implement strategies together. We may grow subgroups based on particular identities, concerns, or priorities.
2. Coming together as a community is activism. Rest, relaxation, person-to-person conversations, and self-care are activism. Disability joy is an act of resistance.

What EDNA does not do:

While we appreciate the value of each of the following, this group does not:

• Provide disability accommodations or accessibility expertise for UO issues, which are the university’s responsibility
• Offer a formal, facilitated support group
• Perform free labor for the university or any university units
• Publicly share member names, data, discussion contributions, or disability status

How to join

Subscribe to our listserv here:

https://lists.uoregon.edu/mailman/listinfo/edna

Questions?

Contact ednagroup@uoregon.edu, but please be prepared for a wait before receiving a response, as this email account is administered by volunteers.