Writing Reference Letters for People with Disabilities
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 95 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 95 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 97 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 97 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 103 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 103 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 105 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 105 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 130 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 130 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 132 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 132 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 161 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 161 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 161 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 162 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 162 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 162 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 205 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 205 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 205 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 205 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 207 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 207 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/settings/migration/ColumnOptions.php on line 207 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Section::$_original_content is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Field_Border::$template is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Border.php on line 48 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Position.php on line 198 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Position.php on line 199 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Position.php on line 200 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Position.php on line 499 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Position.php on line 582 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 79 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 79 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 98 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 98 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 117 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 117 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 117 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 136 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 136 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 157 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 157 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 199 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 200 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 201 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 203 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 204 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 205 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 206 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 207 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 364 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 364 Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/field/Transform.php on line 565 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Helper_MultiViewOptions::$inherited_props is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/helpers/MultiViewOptions.php on line 686 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Field_Divider::$count is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/main-structure-elements.php on line 1498 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Row::$_original_content is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Column::$_original_content is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Blurb::$text_shadow is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Blurb::$margin_padding is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Blurb::$_additional_fields_options is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Blurb::$_original_content is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/class-et-builder-element.php on line 1315 Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ET_Builder_Module_Helper_MultiViewOptions::$inherited_props is deprecated in /www/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/module/helpers/MultiViewOptions.php on line 686(Inside Higher Ed) – Even just mentioning a disability can be a red flag, writes Michele Cooke, who offers some guidelines.
Reference letter–writing season is upon us, and you may be wondering how to approach writing about the disabilities of students and colleagues you are recommending. Letters of reference are critical components of admissions, hiring and promotion. But because letter readers tend to read between the lines, even just mentioning a disability can be a red flag, as Amy Vidali, an associate professor at the University of Colorado at Denver, has noted.
As a part-deaf full professor who has navigated her entire career with a disability, I’ve been on all sides of the desk. I’ve been the mentee cringing at the misrepresentation of my disability, I’ve been the mentor wondering how to frame my mentee’s skills in the best light and I’ve been the letter reader assessing strengths and weaknesses. Here, I offer some suggestions.
You should never disclose someone’s disability without their approval. Even if someone has a visible disability, the letter readers may not yet have met your mentee. Please don’t presume that disclosing disability benefits candidates because “the committee likes to see disability for diversity.” Committees committed to equity are still vulnerable to the pervasive ableism that drives discrimination and harassment of people with disabilities within academe and our society. Admissions and hiring committees are much more likely to admit/hire an abled person. Read more.
Credit: This Week in Accessibility by Brianna Blaser
