Disability and academic careers Dr Kate Sang Intercultural

Disability and academic careers Dr Kate Sang, Intercultural Research Centre Heriot Watt University Edinburgh k. sang@hw. ac. uk Funded by the Engineering Twitter: @katesang and Physical Sciences Research Council and School of Social Sciences, Heriot Watt University

Background • Social model of disability (‘impairments’ v disability) • Academic careers • Disability in higher education – Staff – Students

Data collection • Recruitment – social media, emails to schools (HWU) • Synchronous interviews (26) • Emailed responses (approx 35) • Broad questions about academic careers, disability, progression, adjustments • Analysis – emerging themes

Key findings…. • Flexibility – Can be good e. g. working from home • Fatigue – Common theme – irrespective of ‘impairment’ – being disabled is a second job • Disclosure – Forced/reluctance

Key findings…. • Built environment (shared offices, car parking, lecture halls, toilets etc). • Isolation – Inability to access networks – Informal ‘chit-chat’ • Disciplinary differences – Engineering, physics, medicine, versus humanities, social sciences

Key findings…. • Travel – Conferences – Data collection • Accommodations – formal/informal • Incivility • Line-management (ignorance) • The Ideal Academic

Disability and intersectionality • • • Gender Age Career stage Ethnicity Often ‘impairments’ intersect

Doesn’t need to use the toilet Changes topics easily Is white Does not need financial security Does excellent Research, Teaching, Impact, Engagement, Service Attracts research funding Works independently Works 24/7 Can lift heavy equipment Is mobile Doesn’t have a body The Ideal Academic Has no caring responsibilities Can think all the time Networks Is a man Likes to chat Goes to conferences Is a leader Has endless energy Hides any doubts Has no dietary Can walk up steps requirements Doesn’t need quiet space Keeps quiet