Diversity Audit Tools:
Assessing Disability within Diversity
in Higher Education
2010-2011 AHEAD
Diversity Initiative Leadership Team
Bea Awoniyi, Florida State University
Mattie Grace, University of Southern California
Melanie Thompson, Northern Illinois University
Ruth Warick, University of British Columbia
Diversity: History within AHEAD
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Diversity within AHEAD prior to 2000
Recognition as a SIG
The “Message” in a Name
The birth of the REDD-SIG
Cultural Engagement of Board (Charlotte)
Resolution signed in 2008 by Board of Directors
Formation of the Diversity initiative
Diversity: History within AHEAD
• Feedback sessions – focus group and reporting
• Reference of diversity within mission statement and
organizational values
• Annual conference presentations and dialogue
▫ Diversity within disability (e.g. various types of
disability)
▫ Diversity within disability resource professionals (e.g.
race, sexual orientation)
▫ Disability as a tenet of diversity
Diversity/Disability Intersection
• Diversity within disability
▫ Various types of disability
▫ Disability identity
• Diversity within disability resource professionals
▫ Race and/or Ethnicity
▫ Sexual orientation
▫ Disability
• Disability as a tenet of diversity
▫ Civil Rights law
▫ Largest minority
Diversity Audit Tools
• Online search
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Most from EU
Many Fee based
Few Free tools
Either disability as only connection OR diversity without disability
• Literature review (only 2)
▫ Reisenberger, A., & Dadzie, S., (2002). Equality and diversity in adult
and community learning. Department for education and skills. London:
England. ISBN -1-85338-752-5
▫ Ramburuth, P., & Welch, C. (2005). Educating the global manager:
Cultural diversity and cross-cultural training in international business
education. Journal of Teaching in International Business, 16(3), 5-27.
Select Examples of Audit Tools
• Equality and Diversity Teaching and Learning Audit Proforma
▫ http://www.tlc.murdoch.edu.au/eosj/resources/workshops.html
• Equality and Diversity in Athletics
▫ http://ribblevalleyathleticclub.hitssports.com/clubfiles/793/docs
/EADAuditTool.pdf
• Developing Strategic Approaches to Diversity Policy
▫ http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/14/04714997/04
71499714.pdf
• Carrying Out a Disability Audit on Your Service
▫ http://www.disability.isg.ed.ac.uk/docs/open/AK_How_to_carry
_out_DA_on_your_service.pdf
• Self Audit Checklist
▫ http://www.wolverhamptomhealth.nhs.uk
Sample Audit Tools: Strengths & Challenges
STRENGTHES
• Free
• Open ended questions
• Provide descriptions of some terminology
• Flexibility with application
• Include disability
CHALLENGES
• Limited in scope
• Address specific areas only
• Some include acronyms that are unidentified
• Limited directions
• Doesn’t include other tenets of diversity
AHEAD DI Diversity Audit Tool
• Leadership team created diversity audit tool
between fall of 2010 and spring 2011
• Wanted to address lack of tool that was inclusive of
disability and diversity
• Components
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Structure and Policies
Communication and Technology
Services and Programs
Physical Dimensions
DI Diversity Audit Tool: Structure and
Policies
Sample areas for auditing:
Do diversity policies incorporate disability?
Is the disability service unit a part of a campus-wide
diversity committee?
Do you have leadership support for diversity
initiatives?
Diversity Audit Tool: Communications and
Technology
Sample areas for auditing:
Are the terms your office uses inclusive and embracing
of diversity?
Are the images and examples you use reflective of
diversity?
Does your campus have a publication/webpage listing
all diversity services and resources?
Diversity Audit Tool: Services and Programs
Sample areas for auditing:
Are you aware of diversity campus resources to make
appropriate referrals for students?
Do you work with colleagues to develop a
collaborative approach to handling situations in
which students present a variety of issues?
Does your campus have discrete targeted programs?
Diversity Audit Tool: Physical Dimensions
Sample areas for auditing:
Are diverse groups involved in planning the built
environment?
Is the signage appropriate?
Do other units and your student organization plan and
organize programs in spaces that are accessible to
all?
Promote Diversity with Disability: Allies
• Question - What is an ally?
• “Someone who is not only committed to social
equality but someone who is willing to do the work
of social justice from an informed position: Being
informed about the kind of work that best supports a
particular group.”
University of Colorado - Boulder
Ally Development
• “An informed person who provides a ‘safe zone’ in
their work or study area for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
trans or intersex students or staff.”
Murdoch University
• Other definitions of “Ally”
• Q for later: How do you define ally and how is ally
defined at your institution?
• Is there a unique way that an “ally” is identified?
Bridge Building
• Question - What does this term mean to you?
• Number of ways that we can be inclusive of each individual,
regardless of any real or perceived differences.
• A discussion forum-this would be a place to ask questions and
to find support and information relating to various issues.
• Training in an integral part of any bridge building in the
university community or the community at large.
• Question - Are there ways that your environment deals with
the “town and gown” perspective or dilemma?
Allies and Community Action
• “When you’ve made the choice to be a life-long learner and
become an involved ally, you have begun the transformation
from being a concerned bystander who does not know where
to begin, to finding a true, active role in a community of
people. You have graduated from simply using politically
correct language to building relationships and taking action.
The next step to being an ally is becoming involved in
community.”
University of Colorado - Boulder
Ally & Bridge Building References
• INVST Community Studies-University of Colorado at Boulder:
http://www.colorado.edu/communitystudies/resources/ally.html
• Hon. Linda Childers and Brunner, Brigitta (2000) ‘Diversity Issues and
Public Relations’, Journal of Public Relations Research, 12: 4, 309-340.
• Office of Disability Employment Policy- (202) 693-7880 (Voice); (202) 6937888 (FAX)
• Bromley: http://www.developbromley.com/bridgebuilding
• Murdoch University-Murdoch Ally Program: Equity Access & Diversity
• http://equityaccess.murdoch.edu.au/diversity/Ally/Ally-index.html
• The Diversity Initiative brochure from the AHEAD Diversity Series:
“Promoting Diversity in Disability Services”
Conclusion
• Thank you.
• Questions or comments…