Committee on Disability Issues in the Profession
The Committee on Disability Issues in the Profession will consider the needs and interests of scholars who have disabilities and with addressing issues of accessibility at the convention and other matters the committee may identify.
Specifically, the committee will provide ongoing advice to the MLA staff about services to be provided to disabled persons at the annual convention. It will encourage awareness of technological innovations and workplace conditions that serve the needs of scholars with disabilities. It will address concerns about professional accessibility and advancement for scholars with disabilities and generally encourage nondiscriminatory practices in the profession.
The committee will also address issues surrounding scholarship in the field of disability studies. In particular, it will assist in a review of how the MLA International Bibliography provides access to work in this field and will make recommendations for improvements.
Staff liaisons: Terrence Callaghan and Stacey Courtney (disability.issues@mla.org)
Executive Council adviser: Ifeoma C. Kiddoe Nwankwo
Rebecca Day Babcock, 2022–25
Mel Y. Chen, 2021–24
Jason Farr, 2022–25
Carolyn Fornoff, 2022–25; 2023–25 (Coch.)
Eduardo Ledesma, 2023–26
E. Nicole Meyer, 2021–24; 2022–24 (Coch.)
Jennifer Nelson, 2023–26
Committee Resources
- Using Sign Language Interpreters
- Disability and Hiring: Guidelines for Departmental Search Committees
- Access Guidelines for MLA Convention Session Organizers and Presenters
- Disability Studies and Related Panels at the 2020 MLA Convention
- Disability Studies and Related Panels at the 2019 MLA Convention
- Disability Studies Sessions and Papers at the 2013 MLA Convention