Party Mouse, PhD

Party Mouse, PhD

@partymousephd.bsky.social

Novelist represented by @laurenbieker.bsky.social. Educational researcher focused on sense of belonging, ethics of AI in education, and disability justice/disability studies. Collector of overthought tattoos. Opinions my own.

116 followers227 following274 posts

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Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

New from me and a colleague today in @insidehighered.com This has been on my mind for some time as a parade of articles like the recent piece in the Atlantic have attacked the work of my field to support disabled students. Proud to see it live! #accessibility #accommodations #disability

insidehighered.comColleges Don’t “Over-Accommodate” Disabilities (opinion)A certain genre of articles skeptical of higher ed’s disability accommodation process fuels attacks on civil rights.
Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

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Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

All of these demands can be avoided if the environment itself is accessible. If no test is timed, there is no need for testing time accommodations. If materials are in canvas, I don't have to give that accommodation to a student who might need it.

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

This isn't to say that any of this is easy! But there is an answer, and that answer is to work with and place trust in disability services professionals. We're not perfect, but I promise that most of us are trying our best and are worthy of that trust. End🧵

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

View full thread
Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

DSO professionals (like me) need to: Balance the needs of students/faculty, gather expertise in a wide range of disability contexts, expertise in a wide range of academic settings, and divert energy to implementation and mediation

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

View full thread
Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

All of that happens before step 3) which is accommodations are sent to faculty for implementation. An accommodation is only 'reasonable' (able to be implemented) if it doesn't fundamentally alter the course it is implemented within - which the DSO should be a part of determining

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

View full thread
Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

This is where privilege can play a role, in 2 ways that seem (but are not) contradictory: a) Wealthier students generally have better access to documentation b) Students from privileged backgrounds are often better self-advocates thanks to practice, training, and cultural/social capital

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

View full thread
Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

2. The DSO reviews information from the student to identify any "functional limitations" (the technical term) that may result from a disability experienced by the student that interfere with their engagement in academic activity (or non-academic programs and services, like housing).

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

It's step 2 that holds a lot of fascination for people outside of the process, because it's very private, very individualized, and frankly very 'squishy'. Ultimately, everything in this work is at some level subjective. What is a 'substantial limitation'? What is 'reasonable'?

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

The answer to this question is actually more simple than it appears, and it is "The Interactive Process". That's it. That is only challenging as an answer to this question because a) Institutions understaff and undersupport DSS b) Faculty doubt that DSS is taking its work seriously

mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social

Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

Under the ADA, the obligation to accommodate a disabled student belongs to the university. Most universities designate disability services offices (where people like me work) to be the place where the interactive process happens. What is that process? 🧵

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

1. A student chooses to disclose a disability to the university's designee (disability services). This can be supported by clear/transparent communication about the availability of services, and stymied by cultural factors (like unsupportive faculty/peers).

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

I won’t comment on the obviously false medical science because it’s not my area. What I will say is that we *must* stop treating autism as a disease. We must stop viewing it as a curse. We must affirm that autistic people are as worthy of care, value, and belonging as anyone else.

Party Mouse, PhD
@partymousephd.bsky.social

Generative AI is not thinking, it is not acting, it does not have agency, it is a mirror. It's a mirror, and to the extent it appears 'smart' it is leeching your intelligence and parroting it to you. If you're depressed, it will depress you. If you want validation, it will validate. Either can kill.

Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social

Jesus

Party Mouse, PhD reposted

A.R. Moxon
@juliusgoat.bsky.social

In the final analysis, a billion monkeys chained to a billion typewriters may indeed produce Hamlet, but anyone who would chain a billion monkeys to a billion typewriters isn't going to appreciate or recognize Hamlet when it finally emerges.

Party Mouse, PhD reposted

A.R. Moxon
@juliusgoat.bsky.social

I suppose you could say that insisting on the rights of all trans people is issuing a political purity test. But why would you do so, while also ignoring the fact that those who refuse to enter the tent unless you push trans people out of the tent are also issuing a political purity test?

John Pettus@johngpettus.bsky.social

So many people on the far left are not willing to do even basic coalitional politics (like not backstabbing someone fighting your enemy) to fight fascism.

Party Mouse, PhD reposted

Taylor Lorenz
@taylorlorenz.bsky.social

Can we get to $30k??? Every dollar goes towards life saving care for trans youth no donation is too small! secure.givelively.org/donate/point...

Taylor Lorenz@taylorlorenz.bsky.social

In light of Pride month I'm fundraising for Point of Pride, an incredible trans-led nonprofit that provides direct gender affirming care & things like HRT to trans ppl in need. Please, please donate any small amount that you can. Every bit makes a major impact! secure.givelively.org/donate/point...

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