Here is the Issue with Optional

As long as disability training is “OPTIONAL” to educators, administrators and staff,

we will have thousands even millions of employees working in academia OPTING out when given opportunities to learn how to more effectively teach, organize resources and curriculum, and advocate for students with disabilities.

Many will OPT out even when incentivized.

OPTIONAL disabilities training is a political act.

OPTIONAL disabilities training reinforces segregation.

OPTIONAL disabilities training encourages a “their needs” vs. “our needs” separation in campus conversations,

reducing “their needs” to niche needs,

reducing the power that people trained in disabilities, who are actively participate in “that niche,”

can enact a healthier educational climate,

treating “them” as though “they” are using a language that is not necessary to learn, when, in fact, the unlearned employee is a liability, possibly discouraging students with both visible and invisible disabilities every day.

I am an educator. I am not perfect. I need more training.

As a mother and educator, however, I am discouraged when I attend on and off campus disability trainings and I am one of the few people who showed up.

OPTIONAL disabilities training underserves our students and our teachers, administrators, and staff, positioning them in small corners on campuses nationwide.

Disabilities Training just can not be optional.

…and as long as they are faculty, administrators and staff need to show up.