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Disabled researchers are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Many highlight “ableist” attitudes at work which excludes them from classrooms, labs, fieldwork and conferences, despite the important perspectives and skills they bring to research.
Megan Majocha is gearing up to complete her PhD. But developing a sign-language lexicon to help her succeed took an immense toll during her scientific research.
Christina Goudreau Collison works with Deaf students to develop clear signs for organic chemistry terms — which could also help students with non-conventional learning needs.
Digvijay Singh, a deaf sign-language educator, works with biology researchers and sign-language specialists to add to the scientific lexicon for deaf students in India.
Molecular biologist Alka Rao brought together her research group and sign-language specialists to broaden access to science for deaf students in India.
Amy Ko’s accident gave her an insight into the degree to which her discipline caters mainly to non-disabled people, reinspiring her to invent more accessible programming languages.
Naheda Sahtout says being legally blind doesn’t fundamentally affect her skills, and argues that science needs to start a conversation to attract and empower more researchers like her.
Isobel Williams has an autoimmune disease. The support network that she co-founded is helping to improve life in academia for people with long-term health conditions.