The Case for Including Every(Body)

December 6, 2019
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

1871
222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

Register Now

Program Series:
Science and Society

Share

Share

Join us for C2ST’s inaugural Inclusiveness in STEM event! Wine and food will be provided!

Inclusive practices and promoting diversity have been major challenges in STEM fields. However, people with disabilities are often left out of this important conversation. Complicating this issue are misunderstandings of what it means to be disabled and what barriers limit disabled access in STEM.

What strategies can be used to create a smoother transition for people with disabilities as they complete their education and transition into the workforce? What resources can people with disabilities use to help advocate for themselves? To help answer these questions, learn about the experiences of people with disabilities in STEM, and hear about current research join us for a panel discussion with advocates Dr. Maureen Dunne, Helen Rottier, and Dr. Susan Magasi.

With the aim of a more diverse future workforce, C2ST’s Inclusiveness in STEM series focuses on the importance of allies, self-esteem, recognition, and representation to help minorities overcome barriers that may prevent them from entering STEM careers or achieving longer and greater success in these fields. These discussions will advocate for a more inclusive and diverse workforce and will highlight the importance of perception as it relates to achievement in STEM fields.

Event Details

Friday, December 6th, 2019, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, 1871, 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, #1212, Chicago, IL 60654.

This event is FREE to attend. Wine and food will be provided.

For easy access, guests should enter through the Orleans entrance on the west side of the Merchandise Mart and take those elevators to the 12th floor. Additionally, any elevators in the Merchandise Mart that access the 12th floor will also work.

Parking and Transportation

Self-park at the 210 N. Wells lot and validate your ticket at 1871 for discounted rates.
$8.00 – Monday – Friday: enter between 3:00pm – 11:59pm, out by 8:00am, $14.00 – For up to 12 hours of parking anytime

Entering the garage:
Entrances are located on Wells Street and Post Place (between Franklin Street and Wells Street).
Enter 210 N. Wells Self-Park and pull a “timed” ticket to lift the gate and park your vehicle.
Take your parking ticket with you for validation at 1871 Reception.
For any questions regarding parking at 210 N. Wells Self-Park, please contact info@210nwells.com or
(312) 263-1535.

1871 is easily accessible via the Merchandise Mart CTA Brown and Purple Line stop. For detailed travel information visit www.transitchicago.com or call the Travel Information Center at 1-888-YOUR-CTA or 1-888-CTA-TTY1 (TTY).

Notice: As a guest of Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST), you agree to be photographed, videotaped, or filmed and grant C2ST permission to put the finished footage/photography to any uses that it may deem proper including marketing, advertising (print, radio, and television) and PR-related activities.

We are dedicated to providing a professional and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. Please be respectful of diversity in individuals and in cultures at our events.

Featured Guests

Helen Rottier

Helen Rottier is a graduate student in disability studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her experience as an autistic self-advocate guides her research and community leadership focused on academic access, ableism, and increasing the presence of disabled students in scholars in STEM, especially health sciences. She is a graduate research assistant with the Institute on Disability and Human Development, a collaborating researcher with the Gernsbacher Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the student coordinator of Chicago Autism Spectrum People in Education, and a contributor to Stairway to STEM. Helen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in psychology and gender and women’s studies, and has participated in the Illinois LEND fellowship and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Autism Campus Inclusion program. She will be presenting on disability access, visibility, and mentorship in STEM.

Susan Magasi, PhD

Susan Magasi, PhD is an associate professor of occupational therapy and disability studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research is focused on issues of health care justice (including access, quality and outcomes of primary and cancer care) for people with disabilities. Dr. Magasi is a firm believer the solutions to health inequities should be guided by members of the disability community as full and equal partners and is committed to initiatives that build research capacity among people with disabilities.

Maureen Dunne, PhD

A cognitive scientist and technologist by training, Dr. Dunne has deep industry expertise with over a decade of experience founding, advising, and managing venture-backed cognitive health and education technology startups. She is the co-founder and President of mCare System/Mindheart Lab, maker of the EduPal robot, which is a fast-growing telehealth robotics company that was recently selected to be part of Chairman Reid Hoffman’s prestigious Brain Mind ecosystem. As part of an effort to help strengthen the technology and innovation talent pipeline in Illinois, Dr. Dunne also recently spearheaded the “Autism and Innovation Initiative,” which is predicated on including people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and taking a strength-based approach to training, entrepreneurship and workforce development.

Maureen received Joint BA/MA degrees from the University of Chicago where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was awarded research fellowships from both the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Dunne also earned a Master’s from the London School of Economics, completed advanced training in clinical cognitive-behavioral sciences and machine learning/ data sciences as a fellow at MIT/Harvard, and earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the Division on Medical Sciences at the University of Oxford, where she attended as a Rhodes Scholar.