Video and Webinars

Note that these are all external links. 

Video

The Intersection of Disability and Medical Education: Best Practices and the Role of the Faculty. Former UCSF Director of Student Disability Services Lisa Meeks, PhD, speaks at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2014.

Webinar Series

1 — Helping Medical Schools Assist Students with Disabilities: An Introduction to the Coalition for Disability Access in Health Science and Medical Education

Lisa Meeks, PhD, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
Tim Montgomery, MA, Northwestern University
Elisa Laird-Metke, JD, University of California, San Francisco (Moderator)

The Coalition for Disability Access in Graduate Health Science and Medical Education consists of disability providers from some of the most prestigious medical schools in the country. Hosted by UCSF, the Coalition facilitates a listserv to assist disability service providers and administrators with disability related questions. The coalition also hosts a yearly symposium addressing the unique needs of disability providers in the health sciences. This webinar, first in a series, introduces medical schools to the coalition and provides an overview about the prevalence of SWD in medical education, legally mandated services, effective collaboration, the need for disability expertise in medical education, the mission and initiatives of the coalition, as well as information about joining the listserv.

2 — Disability Law 101: What Faculty Need to Know About Student Accommodations

Elisa Laird-Metke, JD, University of California, San Francisco
Jonathon McGough, MEd, The University of Washington
Lisa M. Meeks, PhD, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (Moderator)

This webinar will provide a practical overview of the disability laws that apply to medical schools, with particular attention to the role of faculty in the accommodation process, how disability laws affect technical standards, and balancing disability accommodations with patient safety concerns. Relevant OCR decisions and court cases will be discussed, and plenty of time for Q&A will be provided.

3 — Separating Fact From Fiction: Debunking Disability Myths and Addressing Legitimate Concerns

Joan Bisagno, PhD, Stanford University
Barbara Hammer, MEd, University of Missouri
Neera R. Jain, MS, CRC, University of California, San Francisco, Auckland Disability Law Centre
Tim Montgomery, MA, Northwestern University
Elisa Laird-Metke, UCSF (Moderator)

This webinar focuses on some prevailing myths regarding students with disabilities in health science and medical education programs. It addresses five of the most common myths including concerns about patient safety, requirements and standards, preparation for the real world of work. We will expose these myths as “false notions,” while discussing the legitimate concerns that underlie them. Through this discussion, we will explain how medical school policy, procedure, and disability accommodations can be created that will provide access without diminishing the outcomes for students or patients.

4 — Clinical Accommodations: Upholding Standards While Creating Equal Access

Neera R. Jain, MS, CRC, University of California, San Francisco
Lisa M. Meeks, PhD, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine
Jan Serrantino, EdD, University of California, Irvine
Elisa Laird-Metke, JD, University of California, San Francisco (Moderator)

Medical schools are often unsure whether accommodations in performance-based settings (such as clerkships, preceptorships, OSCEs, and other standardized patient activities) are appropriate. This session will explore the interactive process that occurs between DS, faculty, staff, and the student when determining reasonable accommodations in the clinical environment. Administrators and DS providers will leave the session with greater understanding about how to develop a process for determining and implementing accommodations, and how to identify when a potential accommodation affects the integrity of the learning outcomes, compromises patient safety, or challenges technical standards. As well, the presenters will provide examples of complex accommodation requests and models for decision-making and implementation.

5 — Putting it in Writing: The Value of Creating Clear and Effective Policies for Students With Disabilities

Pheadra Bell, PhD, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine
Barbara Blacklock MA, LISW University of Minnesota
Elisa Laird-Metke, JD University of California, San Francisco
Lisa Meeks, PhD (Moderator)

This webinar will describe the importance—to students and medical schools—of having clear, written policies and procedures available to prospective students, as well as recently admitted and currently enrolled students. The practical advice offered will include how to create and effectively publicize procedures for students to obtain and use disability accommodations, as well as tips for developing clear processes for medical school faculty and staff to ensure students feel welcomed and receive appropriate, reasonable accommodations in both didactic and clinical settings. The presenters will highlight how these best practices benefit all medical students and contribute to the school’s overall diversity.

6 — Creating a Balance: Professionalism, Communication, and Students With Disabilities

Neera R. Jain, MS, CRC, University of California, San Francisco
Lisa M. Meeks, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Maxine Papadaxis, MD, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine
Elisa Laird-Metke, JD (Moderator)

Professionalism in communication between university personnel and students is critical when addressing disability related needs and implementing accommodations. Students often struggle with how (and how much) to discuss their disabilities with faculty and supervisors. This can be especially difficult for students with disabilities that might impact their communication (e.g., Autism, Asperger’s, non-verbal learning disorder, psychological disability). As well, faculty and administrators may unwittingly complicate matters by slipping into their role as a provider, further blurring the lines of communication.

This webinar addresses the importance of establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries and provides numerous examples of positive and appropriate communication for various types of conversations (e.g., disclosure, requests, scheduling an accommodation). This guidance helps aid DS providers, faculty, and administrators who work with students with disabilities to understand the principles of professional communication.