Get Involved
Join our email list to receive information on upcoming events, news, and more!
Contact Us
Human Resources
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8054
United States
Disability+ Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
Our Mission
The mission of the Disability+ Faculty & Staff Affinity Group (D+ FSA) is to create spaces for disability and neurodivergence culture to thrive at American University. As disabled/neurodivergent/autistic/blind/mad/chronically ill faculty and staff, we unite to foster community and celebrate our differences.
We envision a campus where disabled and neurodivergent faculty and staff are fully included and welcomed in our campus culture and communities. Centering the voices of those with lived experience, we seek to educate, advocate, and contribute to a better AU.
Our affinity group is anti-racist, anti-colonial, and feminist and welcomes all who want to learn more about disability and neurodivergence. While our founding members identify as disabled/neurodivergent/chronically ill, anyone is welcome to learn more about disability justice, mad pride, and neurodivergence.
What We Mean with Disability+
When we say “Disability+” we want to describe any and all forms of neurodivergence, visible or invisible disability, chronic illness, trauma, etc. This includes but is not limited to: anyone who is Deaf, who has AD(H)D, who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device, who has (C)PTSD, or who has depression. We invite everyone to participate in this group, whether you identify as disabled/neurodivergent/etc. or are just starting to figure out if maybe you feel like this group would benefit you. We don’t expect anyone to come to the group with a certain knowledge about disability justice, mad pride, or neuroqueerness -- we are here to learn together, grow together, and support one another. If you are interested in learning more, we have added some resources below that are good starting points.
Learn More
Below we offer some general resources to help folks who aren’t sure what language to use or how to think about themselves or others in respect to disability and neurodivergence. We will expand this section over time; feel free to email disabilityfsa@american.edu your suggestions and ideas!
- The Significance of Semantics: Person-First Language: Why It Matters by Lydia X. Z. Brown
- Lydia X. Z. Brown on Autism and Neurodivergence
- Audacious Autistics
- Mia Mingus on Access Intimacy, Interdependence, and Disability Justice
- Sins Invalid’s 10 Principles of Disability Justice - Watch the documentary through AU’s library if you have the time!
- The Fireweed Collective’s Healing Justice Framework and Crisis Toolkit
- How to Create Healthcare Content for a Neurodivergent Audience
Contact Information
Email: disabilityfsa@american.edu
- Tanja Aho (aho@american.edu), faculty CRGC
- Marc Medwin (medwin@american.edu), faculty DPA
- Mac Crite (mcrite@american.edu), staff CTRL
If you are a staff member interested in joining our leadership team, please reach out to one of us.
Look for the IE logo for Inclusive Excellence resources and materials.