Spotlight on equity and accessibility development opportunities

From: Office for Equity and Accessibility

Throughout the year, the Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) offers interactive development opportunities on Virginia Tech’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and affirmative action. OEA also offers conflict resolution workshops to strengthen communication and increase collaboration in the workplace.

READ: Respect, Equity, and Anti-discrimination Training

READ: Respect, Equity, and Anti-discrimination Training is a mandatory bi-annual training for all faculty, staff, and non-student wage employees of the university. This highly interactive workshop takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and covers key information about the university’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, federal civil rights laws, complaint procedures, and employee reporting responsibilities.

New employees must complete READ training within 90 days of employment. The workshop is available for registration in the PageUp LMS as an on-demand module or a live, instructor-led training. For questions about this training, contact oeatraining@vt.edu. 

Affirmative Action

The Search Committee Charge Workshop is designed for members of search committees and other Virginia Tech stakeholders who may engage in recruitment and search processes. The workshop prepares participants to identify the university's search and selection process, recognize and comply with university and federal equal opportunity and affirmative action policies, and manage a fair and equitable search process. In order to participate in the search and selection process, an employee must have completed the workshop within the last two years. 

Employees may register for the workshop in the PageUp LMS or contact Jasmine Tucker, senior affirmative action specialist, for registration details.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility Services

The ADA Liaison Network (ALN) provides up-to-date information and professional guidance on the ADA and federal regulations as it pertains to reasonable workplace and return-to-work accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities. The ALN is a collaborative space in which professionals can discuss current issues related to the ADA. 

ALN's workshops cover a range of topics including ADA reasonable accommodation basics, long-term disability working accommodations, reassignment as a last resort accommodation, performance concerns and ADA reasonable accommodations, the intersectionality of ADA with The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and workers' compensation, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and ADA reasonable accommodations. Additionally, departments may request customized training on ADA-related subjects including physical and digital accessibility to enhance their comprehension of the ADA and foster an inclusive workplace for all. To request training, contact the ADA and Accessibility team.

Conflict resolution

OEA offers three customizable trainings for conflict resolution, which are available upon request.

• “Moving from Conflict to Collaboration” teaches participants to use active listening, open-ended questions, brainstorming, and other skills to make conflict an opportunity for dialogue and connection.
• The mindfulness-based conflict coaching system “Dis-Solving Conflict from Within” helps participants use self-inquiry to address conflict and respond to it with strength, clarity, and ease.  
• “Compassionate Communications” teaches employees to identify and engage with feelings and needs to create more productive and compassionate day-to-day work interactions and build a more equitable, effective, and collaborative work community.  

To schedule a conflict resolution workshop, contact Henry Yampolsky, assistant director for education, outreach, and conflict resolution.