Students and faculty from the UMBC Mechanical Engineering Department, American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter, Center for Women in Technology, and Retriever Robotics manned the UMBC booth at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC on April 16-17.  With a combination of interactive displays and hands-on activities focusing on sustainable design, robotics, and engineering principles, the booth was inundated by crowds from open to close each day.  The students also fielded many questions about degree programs from prospective students.  Special thanks to Ms. Jamie Gurganus and Dr. Carlos Romero-Talamas for their hard work before and during the festival.

You can find out more about the festival here.

A resource round-up provided by Women’s Center staff members Meagé and MJ

In case you missed Tuesday’s roundtable on (In)Visible Disabilities and Women (or if you were there and want to keep the conversation going), we thought it might be useful to summarize some of the discussion in addition to linking some useful reading materials and resources.

As with all of our roundtables, we reached out to our panel members and asked them to keep a few guiding questions in mind as they shared their stories and examples. Some of these included:

• Where do the intersections of (in)visible disabilities and gender show up for you personally? In the classroom, peer networks, etc.?

• How does disability relate to issues like reproductive justice, sexual violence, or gender socialization?

• How is the way we talk about disability influenced by gender and sexuality?

• How does ableism impact women with visible vs. invisible disabilities differently?

• Why is this a social justice and/or feminist issue?

On Tuesday, our panelists shared their definitions and experiences of disabilities and their intersection with gender. Rina Rhyne of Voices Against Violence, elaborated on the array of sexual assault/violence perpetrated towards people with disabilities. “Sexual violence is not always physical. Caretakers and partners can manipulate the power and control they hold in relationship.” (See the Power and Control Wheel: People with Disabilities and their Caregivers)  Dr. Julie Murphy spoke to the ways in with ADHD are diagnosed (or not) and the ways in which gender socialization impact the ways in which people respond or react to with women with ADHD. Dr. Kate Drabinski reflected on teaching disability studies and encouraged us to learn more about the social model of disability. Student Leader, Prachi, shared her experience as a Deaf student here at UMBC. She explained the duality of deafness, “it is both an invisible and visible disability.” Prachi also spoke to what it means to be Deaf as a woman of color and called for a change in the way we view disabilities saying, “deafness is not ugly nor is it negative.”

With only an hour to spend together, there’s still so much more we could have discussed and learned together. Below are just a few resources to help us continue to engage in self-reflection and growth.

Thanks to our panel members for the important and rich conversation!

From Stuff Mom Never Told You

• When America’s “Ugly Laws” Hid the Disabled Poor From the Public Eye
• Disabled Sexuality Podcast

From Everyday Feminism

• How Mainstream Feminism Continues to Perpetuate Ableism (And How We Can Change That)
• I’m Not a Person with a Disability. I’m an Disabled Person
• 4 Ways to Be an Ally to People with Invisible Disabilities

News and other articles

• #SolidarityIsForTheAbleBodied, and Feminism’s Ableism Problem
• The hidden victims of campus sexual assault: Students with disabilities
• The Place of Women with Disabilities in Feminist Movements

Helpful Legal Services/ Information on Disability Rights and Accommodations

• Maryland Disability Law Center
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Pro Bono Resource Center – Maryland
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
• JAN Network – Job Accommodation Network
• ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
• Rape,Abuse & Incest National Network: Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities
• Power & Control Wheel:People with Disabilities and their Caretakers

On-campus Resources

• Student Disability Services
• AOK Library Assistive Technology
• UMBC Counseling Center
• Voices Against Violence

Read more from other roundtable roundups:

Trans Identities + Mental Health (March 2016)

Black Trauma + Mental Health (February 2016)

White Womanhood + Critical Whiteness (September 2015)

A not to miss opportunity for those interested in Medical School.

Attend Monday's upcoming upcoming information session with:
Dr. Lloyd Minor, MD
Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine

THIS Monday, April 25th
11:00 AM till 12 Noon
ITE 108 A - Imaging Resource Center

Lloyd B. Minor, MD, is a scientist, surgeon, and academic leader. He is the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, a position he has held since December 2012. 

As dean, Dr. Minor plays an integral role in setting strategy for the clinical enterprise of Stanford Medicine, an academic medical center that includes the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Stanford Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. He also oversees the quality of Stanford Medicine’s physician practices and growing clinical networks.  More information on his bio can be found here.

This is a blog post written by student staff member, Carrie Cleveland.

This post is reflective of my own journey in trying to embrace who I am while trying to work on improving my overall health.  I chose to write about what I am doing because it is an important part of who I am right now. Everyone has their own path, this just happens to be mine.

So I joined a gym. Not just a regular gym with a bunch of treadmills and elliptical machines. I joined  Conquest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA gym. I mean, what middle aged, overweight woman decides that this is the way that she’s going to lose weight?  At least, I didn’t think it would be my personal path. But, it went something like this…

I saw a post on Facebook for a weight loss challenge that said that for $100 I’d receive 10 weeks of classes and nutritional coaching. There are classes specifically for women called Fight Fit. They are like Crossfit mixed with some punches and kicking. I also get access to their yoga classes.  I love me some yoga!  I thought “what the hell?!” and I signed up.

It took my ENTIRE being to not make that same face as the woman in green!

The first day that I walked in to the gym, I was measured and my weight was taken. I knew the woman who was doing this for me, and when I stepped up on the scale, I cried. I was so upset with myself that my weight was as high as it was. I immediately felt a sense of shame, but I did not want to let that shame stop me from taking the next step on this journey.

Photographic evidence of my first Fight Fit class

After the traumatic weigh in, I walked in and started my class. Everyone looked super fit and healthy and in shape. I mean, professional MMA fighters train at this gym. Come on! I definitely thought my fat ass did not belong there (this warrants an entire post on its own but this blog sort of sums it up) but I got through that first workout with some modifications. I was surprised though that all these people that I just met were amazingly supportive. I think I had a preconceived idea that everyone would be super judgy and think I did not belong. The instructors all were willing to meet me where I am at and help me modify some things so I could get through the workouts.  I was not expecting the huge levels of support I would receive from all of them and truly, it is priceless.

The next day I woke up and could barely move. My entire body hurt. Every muscle was sore. By the end of that day I basically crawled into bed and just curled up in a ball because I felt like I could no longer function. Then Monday came and I did something I thought I would not do.

I went back.

I took another class, and I was so surprised because it was hard and the workout SUCKED, but I did it. I got through it and I was so proud of myself. The other women in the class were cheering me on and encouraging me. I mean who does not want that?!?!

Repeat like 1000 times

For the past five weeks I have gone to classes almost regularly. I have made modifications to my diet like eliminating sugar and alcohol, and it is making a difference. I have noticed small changes in myself and I am shocked. My pants are looser. I am less sore after a workout. My wedding rings fit again after what feels like forever. Today, one of my friends stopped me and told me I looked good.  It was such a great affirmation of my hard work and even though I know my value is not determined in how I look or how much I weigh, I do appreciate someone noticing that I am working on me.

I have five weeks to go and I think I have a real chance of winning the challenge. After these first few weeks though I realize it is not about the potential prize at the end, it is about me. Many women, myself included, spend so much time taking care of other people that we put ourselves last on our own list. I am so guilty of this and I need to do better. I need to make myself a priority and that is what I am doing right now. I stepped out of my little box of fear and I tried something new. When I did that I found a gym that met me where I am at and embraced the person I am.  The trainers, yoga instructor, and the other students have been nothing but encouraging and helpful.

Daniel recently wrote this blog about how important it is that we treat ourselves with love. His words ring so true to my own journey in valuing myself and my body.  Although our paths are different, I believe our destinations are similar.  We just want to feel good about the body we are in. This is very reflective of what the body positivity movement is trying to teach all people. I am a work in progress but I feel good for the first time in a long time about who I am TODAY and who I can be TOMORROW.

Interested in working for the federal government? Look into USAjobs, the federal government’s official source for job listings, applications, and employment opportunity information.

The federal government has internship and employment opportunities for majors in many different disciplines, from political science to engineering. As a double major in history and global studies, I have always been interested in opportunities with the federal government, so I’ve made an account on USAjobs. The hardest part of making an account is understanding the resume.

Federal resumes are completely different than typical resumes. Usually resumes are a one page summary of your skills and experience, but federal resumes tend to be two to five pages long. It is a much more in-depth description of your skills and experience. Most federal jobs expect you to include past salary and the number of hours worked per week for each past position, which is much more information than is included in a typical resume.

Once you finish your resume, it is usually a good idea to figure out what kinds of jobs you would be eligible for and interested in. The list of Federal Occupations by College Major is a great resource for this; it gives a detailed list of the types of jobs you may be interested in. This is a great way to fully understand the options available to you within the federal government.

Ideally, every federal employer would post all vacancies on USAJobs, but that is not always the case. There are many employers, like the CIA and the Supreme Court, that rarely post on USAJobs and recruit in other ways. It may be important to keep an eye out for employment opportunities with these departments as well as the ones listed on USAJobs.

On April 26 at noon in the Commons, room 331, the Career Center is hosting a workshop on managing the federal job process. Adrian Williams from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management will be presenting on the different aspects of the federal job search, including Pathways Program overviews, how to search and apply for jobs, and how to manage your USAJobs account. This workshop will be a great opportunity to ask questions about federal job opportunities and applications, and it will definitely help you prepare for the federal job application process.

If you are still struggling to understand any aspect of the federal job process after this workshop, USAJobs has four free online presentations coming up to explain the federal job application process. They will walk attendees through the job selection process by explaining the many aspects of job opportunity announcements and helping them identify important requirements of the job. They will then help people tailor resumes to specific jobs and explain the USAJobs resume builder.

These workshops are being held on:

Monday, May 2, 10:00am-11:30am

Monday, May 2, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Wednesday, May 4, 11:00-12:30

Wednesday, May 4, 6:00-7:30

Make sure you register online by clicking the links, attendance is limited to the first 1,500 people who RSVP per event.

The federal job search may be very different than a typical job search, but it is definitely manageable. There are opportunities for tons of different jobs, so feel free to check it out!