Petition: Establishing the Yale Center for Disability Studies Network

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Dear Yale Faculty, Students, and Researchers,

We write to you today with a sense of urgency and passion to call for your support in establishing the Yale Disability Studies Network, a visionary cross-school, interdepartmental center that combines cutting-edge theory and empirical research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and to foster the implementation and innovation necessary for a more diverse and equitable society.

Disabled populations are present in every demographic group and can arise at any life stage for anyone, yet they remain one of the most underrepresented and marginalized communities in our society. This lack of representation perpetuates misconceptions, fosters stigmatization, and ultimately hinders the development of effective policies and practices essential for creating inclusive environments for us all.

Disability studies, in turn, has been one of the least prioritized fields in academia, resulting in a significant gap in our understanding of the experiences, challenges, and contributions of disabled individuals. This negligence prevents us from developing comprehensive, intersectional, and transformative solutions that address the needs of our community and promote greater equity and social justice for all. This oversight obstructs opportunities for research, innovations, and substantial development across a wide range of departments.

Yale is for Humanity. As a world-leading research institution, Yale has demonstrated its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in many ways, including assistive services and affinity groups. However, Yale has yet a dedicated disability studies department or program. This glaring omission puts us at a significant disadvantage compared to other top universities that have already embraced the importance of this field. See University of Chicago, Stanford, Harvard, the University of Washington, Columbia, Georgetown, and many more. If we do not act now to develop interdisciplinary disability studies and practices, Yale will be falling behind its peer institutions again as our society rapidly evolves towards greater diversity and inclusivity in every aspect.

The establishment of the Yale Disability Studies Network as a named entity under Yale will serve to fill this critical gap and reinforce Yale's promise of leading world research in diversity, equity, and inclusion. This network will catalyze interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, professional students, and researchers across departments, schools, and universities. By providing a platform for sharing and generating knowledge and resources, we will not only have an intellectual home for those who work to enhance the lives of disabled individuals at Yale from all different fields, but also demonstrate a model for factoring disabilities into every aspect of our society at large.

To successfully establish the Yale Disability Studies Network, your support is vital.

Please sign your name, contact information, affiliation at Yale; if you'd like, please provide a brief statement explaining why you believe establishing a center of research in disability studies and practices is crucial, your suggestions, and your willingness for involvement (in what capacity). We are seeking all supporting roles but are particularly hoping to engage faculty who are willing to take on leadership roles in advancing this initiative. Your support will demonstrate to the Yale administration the pressing need to invest in this essential area of research now.

By investing in the Yale Disability Studies Network, Yale will not only strengthen its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but will also take a decisive step in spearheading the development of innovative practices and frameworks that will benefit society as a whole.

Time is of the essence. We thank you in advance for your support and dedication to this vital endeavor.

Sincerely,

Yale Disability Studies Network

yaledsn@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yale-disability-studies-network/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaledisabilitystudies/

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