Empowering Voices: Building a Culture of Accessibility with CMU's Disabilities Alliance
CMU's Disabilities Alliance is the newest Employee Resource Group (ERG) on campus. We just wrapped up our inaugural year, where we focused on programming related to resources, intentional conversations surrounding accessibility and fostering a culture that centers the disability experience. A common echo among our members has been gratitude that space is being carved out to bring disabilities into the rich landscape of diverse identities and experiences already celebrated at CMU.
As a new ERG, we’re still finding our footing and are excited to welcome a new co-lead in August. One standout initiative that has emerged from our conversations about accessibility and our members' lived experiences is our crowdsourced accessibility map. This map isn’t just a practical tool; it’s also a platform for community-building and storytelling. By combining official campus data with community input, photos and first-hand observations, we’re creating a living, breathing resource that reflects the real and evolving accessibility needs of our members.
To be clear, this map is not an ADA compliance audit but something else entirely. It’s an opportunity to rethink what accessibility means in practice for a wide range of people and situations. It invites us to go beyond checklists and ask deeper questions: What makes a space welcoming, usable or empowering? What kinds of physical, sensory, cognitive or social barriers exist that aren’t always visible or easily categorized? Most importantly, by giving members space to define accessibility on their own terms, we’re stepping into leadership roles in shaping the environments that impact us the most.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to offer more social and networking events, professional development opportunities with our allies, and continued collaboration across other ERGs. Becoming a member gives you access to our member portal and the accessibility map project. You will also be invited to monthly meetings, social events and intersectional celebrations.
If you’re interested in engaging in conversations about accessibility, contributing to our map or building community with our members, we’d love to have you. The Disabilities Alliance warmly welcomes everyone, including our allies. You can complete a membership form here.
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