Christina serves as director of a biology lab that facilitates research on human cadavers. Her lab also serves as a teaching site for undergraduate courses in anatomy and physiology. She has served as lab director for more than 10 years. In that time, there has been minimal change to her facilities and her standard operational procedures.
Recently, Christina’s lab recruited a new doctoral research assistant, Shaz. In her first week in the lab, Shaz has encountered several points of inaccessibility, most significant is the fixed height of the tables the research cadavers rest on. Shaz, who uses a wheelchair, is currently unable to meaningfully participate with her peers in activities involving the cadavers.
When the limitations of the lab’s physical design are brought to Christina’s attention, she asks Shaz if she has any suggestions. Shaz shares that all of her previous research spaces included exam tables with adjustable heights, either electronic or with hand cranks. Other than replacing the tables, Shaz did not have suggestions for what could be done. Christina immediately recognized the need for new exam tables and acknowledged that securing funds and facilitating a remodel of the space would not be feasible in the current academic year. Christina reaches out to several of her peers and colleagues at disability access services to brainstorm short-term and long-term solutions
As a short-term solution, Christina assigns an undergraduate assistant to Shaz. A part of the undergraduate assistant’s role is to position an iPad with video messaging software so Shaz can engage with projects by directing the undergraduate assistant with the camera and viewing research activities on her own tablet. As a long-term solution, Christina works with her dean and other administrators to make changes to plans for new lab construction to ensure that adjustable height tables are installed to enable full participation of every member of the lab.
- The Issue: Christina is made aware that the design of the cadaver lab is not fully accessible to all research team members, specifically Shaz who utilizes a wheelchair.
- The Deliberation: Christina consults with Shaz, peers, disability access services, her dean and other administrators to determine short- and long-term solutions.
- The Growth: Christina is able to leverage institutional resources to provide immediate access for Shaz, as well as engage in long term planning to prevent similar inaccessible conditions in the future.