What’s In a Name:
Implications of Position Titles in
Disability Resources
AHEAD 2015
Grace Moskola
Accessibility Consultant
Student Accessibility Services
University of Central Florida
Kimberly Tanner
Director
Access Office
Valdosta State University
Agenda
• Introductions
• Overview of Medical and Social Model of Disability
• Reframing
• Why reframe?
• How to reframe?
• Historic perspective from UCF and VSU
• Job titles & Office names
• Changes and the resulting impact
• Refocus resource
• Discussion/ Q&A
“Two Models of Disability”
Gill, C. (1994). Two models of disability. Chicago Institute of Disability. University of Chicago.
Medical Model
•
•
•
•
Disability is a deficiency or abnormality
Being disabled is negative
Disability resides in the individual
The remedy for disability-related
problems is cure or normalization of
the individual
• The agent of remedy is the professional
who affects the arrangements between
the individual and society
Socio-political Model
• Disability is a difference
• Being disabled, in itself, is neutral
• Disability derives from interaction
between individual and society
• The remedy for disability-related
problems is a change in the interactions
between the individual and society
• The agent of remedy can be the
individual, and advocate, or anyone who
affects the arrangements between
individual and society
How do we reframe?
“A frame, or frame of reference, is a complex schema of unquestioned beliefs, values and
so on that we use when inferring meaning. If any part of that frame is changed (hence
‘reframing’), then the meaning that is inferred may change.”
To reframe:
1. Consider the message you are sending? Does the message reflect your intentions?
What “reality is being created” when using a particular frame?
2. Reconsider your message using a different “lens.” Be intentional with your words and
actions. Reframing allows us to recreate our reality.
http://changingminds.org/techniques/general/reframing.htm
Reframing Our Language:
How does the tone/focus change to match the
true nature of our jobs?
Focus on Disability
Focus on Accessibility
• Disability Specialist
• Disability Resource Center
• Disability Awareness
• Accessibility Consultant
• Accessibility Services
• Accessibility Awareness
Hidden Meanings in Job Titles
• Manager
• Director
• Coordinator
• Specialist
• Assistant
• Counselor
• Advisor
• Consultant
Legal
Helper
Rule
Maker
Cheerleader
Controller
Medical
Enforcer
Who are you?
Specialist
Consultant
• Definition: a person who
devotes himself or herself to
one subject or to one particular
branch of a subject or pursuit.
• Title: “Disability Specialist”
• Meaning: A person who devotes
him/herself to knowledge about
various disabilities
• Definition: a person who gives
professional or expert advice
• Title: “Accessibility Consultant”
• Meaning: A person who gives
professional advice regarding
creating an accessible
environment
A Tale of Two Offices…
• University of Central Florida
• Office name
• Past & Present
• Position title(s)
• Past & Present
• Valdosta State University
• Office name
• Past & Present
• Position title(s)
• Past & Present
Reactions from Campus: Office Name
Student Accessibility Services/Access Office
• “Promotes inclusion and not labeling of a group of people”
• “Access encompasses all groups of people”
• “Using the word Accessibility instead of Disability removes the
negative stigmas.”
Reactions from Campus: Position Title
Accessibility Consultant/Strategist
• “Emphasizes collaboration between student and staff, gains student trust and
buy-in.”
• “More positive and less intimidating than the word “Coordinator.”
• “The job title reflects what we do to help students accomplish their goals”
• The title of “Disability Specialist” would indicate that “everyone on campus and
elsewhere will be looking to me for all the right answers related to
disability…specialist means important and most knowledgeable in their field-like
physicians specializing in neurology, cardiology, etc.”
• “I felt very intimidated by the word ‘specialist’…”
• “That is a cool title” and it is “the best description of what [is done].”
Resources to Help with Reframing
• Refocus: Viewing the work of disability services differently
• Grace’s email address: Grace@ucf.edu
• Kimberly’s email address: katanner@valdosta.edu