UMass Allies for Illness and Disability Access (UMAIDA) promotes a supportive network and work environment that is inclusive and accessible for all individuals with lived experience of disability, deafness, illness (chronic and mental), injury, neurodiversity and their allies. The group also focuses on ways to support the recruitment, retention, professional development and career advancement of employees with disabilities.
UMass Disability and Accessibility Resources
Steering Committee
Samm Nelson (she/her), IT Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology Specialist
Marcie Savoie (she/her), IT Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology Specialist
Adam Ware (they/them), Associate Dean of Special Collections and University Archives, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Connect with UMAIDA
We are using the umaida@groups.umass.edu for email communications. Folks can sign up by searching 'umaida' in the google groups interface. Our meetings are announced on the email listserve.
Join UMAIDA on Microsoft Teams where we share materials, meeting notes, and resources. To join the team, send an email to either samm.nelson@umass.edu or msavoie@umass.edu.
Learn More About UMAIDA
Podcast Episode with the UMass Allies for Illness and Disability Access (Air Date 9/29/2021)
Dr. Nefertiti Walker interviews Melinda LeLacheur, Michele Cooke, and Samm Delorey from the UMass Allies for Illness and Disability Access (UMAIDA) Network. In addition to discussing the work of UMAIDA, they discuss the living/learning/working challenges on-campus, the effects of returning to in-person work after a period of remote work, and their personal stories and experiences.
Watch the Captioned Video Podcast
