Spotlight Leadership of Disability Employee Network
In honor of National Disabilities Employment Month (October) we want to spotlight one of our employee resource groups, the Disability Employee Network.
The mission of the Disability Employee Network is for staff and faculty with disabilities and allies that revolves around creating an inclusive and supportive workplace environment for employees with disabilities.
The vision for the Disability Employee Network revolves around creating an inclusive, supportive, and empowering workplace where individuals with disabilities are valued, have equal opportunities, and can flourish personally and professionally. The group is open to all employees.
The Objectives for this group are below:
Support
- Empowerment: The group aims to empower individuals living with disabilities by providing a platform for us to share our unique experiences, challenges, and perspectives. It seeks to amplify their voices within the university.
- Mentoring and Support: Create a supportive network for employees with disabilities and allies by offering mentorship programs, peer support, and resources to help them succeed in their roles. Raise awareness about invisible disabilities including psychosocial disabilities. Ensure that the ERG addresses these issues and provides support. 80-90% are invisible disabilities.
Engagement
- Community Engagement: Engage with the broader UTA community by participating in disability awareness events, volunteering, or collaborating with allies and external disability organizations to further the cause of inclusivity.
- Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of employees with disabilities, both within the university and in the broader community.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with other university initiatives that promote belonging and engagement.
- Leading by Example: Ultimately, this employee resource group aspires to be a model of inclusivity and diversity within the university, setting an example for others to follow.
Education
- Advocacy and Awareness: Raise awareness about the challenges faced by employees with disabilities and advocate for policies and practices that promote inclusivity and accessibility around the university.
- Intersectionality: Recognize that disabilities can intersect with other aspects of university life work to address these intersections in a holistic manner.
Raising awareness that disabilities can occur at any point in life. - Employee Resource Group Growth: Expand the ERG's membership and influence by actively recruiting new members and allies who are committed to the cause of disability inclusion. Educate others: Create awareness about disabilities etiquette. Language appropriate language usage. Terms that we want to use and terms that should not be used. People with disabilities have the same experience who do not have a disabilities.
Leadership
Darlene Hunter, Associate Professor in Practice – Social Work, and Faye Kathryn Cocchiara, Clinical Associate Professor – Management, are a team working to amplify the voices of our colleagues with the disabilities. Darlene and Faye have been with UTA for a combined 25+ years and have helped UTA start the disability employee group. They co-leading the network together, they shared their experience, passion, and vision for the future of Disability Employee Network at UTA. Here is an opportunity for you to get to know the leadership of this network:
Faye Kathryn Cocchiara, Chair of Disability Employee Network
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Management
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a three-time alumna of UTA, having earned my Management degrees – bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. – there. My first higher education role was at Arkansas State University, where I also served one year as the university's Chief Diversity Officer. I worked professionally at a division of American Airlines prior to my current career in higher education. On a personal note, my husband and I have two adult children, three adorable grandchildren, and a spunky and spoiled 5-year-old beagle. I am also a big fan of documentaries, especially true crime.
What inspired you to take on a leadership role with the Disability ERG Network?
I didn’t set out to lead the Disability ERG. I simply wanted to be involved. I had the chance to work with a newly formed ERG years ago when I worked in the private sector. I enjoyed listening to and learning about the issues that were important to the group and how addressing those issues could improve how the group felt about their relationship with the company. Additionally, my research interests surround fairness for underserved and marginalized communities, and I was raised to value and fight for equality for everyone. So, when I was asked if I would serve as co-leader, I said, "Yes!"
What makes the Disability ERG Network special to you?
I love the fact that UTA has seen fit to create spaces where underrepresented groups feel comfortable speaking up about their needs and experiences without being criticized or their concerns minimized. The Disability network is special to me because the challenges that disabled people face every day are the same ones that will affect each of us if we live long enough. It’s personal.
Tell us a little bit about what you’re working on to support the Disability ERG Network?
I’ve taught a disability and work class for a few spring semesters now. As I prep the class, I always consider what the ERG might find interesting and in what ways the things I learn might benefit the network members. I participated in a couple of very interesting disability-related webinars over the summer that I look forward to sharing with the group.
What’s a piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to be an ally and/or support our UTA’s Disability ERG Network?
One of the lesser-known aspects of ERGs is that it isn’t required that employee network members be part of the membership group (e.g., ability, race, gender, or age) to be an ally. As I said in my answer to an earlier question, if you live long enough you will likely experience a disability of some kind. Therefore, I encourage all employees, both disabled and non-disabled, to become involved with the Disability ERG. You might learn something new, and I assure you that you’ll meet some fantastic people. Reach out to Dr. Darlene Hunter or me at UTADisability@uta.edu if you’d like to know more.
If you would like to join the Disability Employee Network please visit UTA’s ERG Website https://www.uta.edu/hr/belonging-and-engagement/erg
Also, if you would like to use a background for your virtual meetings to support and promote the Disability Employee Network please upload this background to your Microsoft Teams’ background:
*Virtual Meetings Background for Disability Employee Network = promoting the latest edition, allowing employees to click the virtual meetings background
