Disability in Higher Education: Investigating Identity, Stigma and Discl osure Amongst Disabled Academics

This book explores the challenges faced by disabled faculty in higher education, highlighting the structural barriers that create difficulties and offering solutions to improve current practice. It emphasizes the importance of amplifying the voices and experiences of disabled faculty, examining the representation of disability, and providing personal accounts of visible and invisible disabilities. The book argues for changes to policies, support systems, and cultural attitudes to create an inclusive and equitable academic environment for disabled faculty.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: Open University Press

Higher education presents significant challenges for disabled faculty, with structural barriers creating obstacles to their success. This book highlights these challenges and offers solutions to improve current practices. Staff in higher education face a competitive environment characterized by long working hours and the use of standardized metrics to monitor and evaluate performance. The author emphasizes this issue and also covers a range of topics such as the stigma associated with disability, workplace discrimination, the decision to disclose a disability, and access to workplace accommodations.

The book amplifies the voices and experiences of disabled faculty, examining the representation of disability and its impact on both disabled and non-disabled audiences. It provides a range of personal accounts of visible and invisible disabilities by those working in higher education. The book argues for changes to current practice through advice, support, and guidance for those impacted by disability. It features a chapter that addresses the structural and operational issues that systematically disadvantage disabled academics.

The book aims to inform and advise those interested in disability within higher education. It is relevant to those who identify as disabled, as well as senior management, policy makers, and students of disability studies or education.

“Gayle Brewer's Disability in Higher Education is a clear, concise, accessible yet detailed exploration of the realities of disability in the Academy.” - Nancy Hansen, Professor, Director Disability Studies, University of Manitoba, Canada

“I am proud to endorse Dr. Brewer's much-anticipated work on Disability in Higher Education. This book exposes the barriers, stigma, and discrimination that disabled academics face, and provides valuable insights and solutions for addressing these issues.”

ISBN-13: 9780335250318