Accommodating Others and Working with Differences

If there’s anything that can be done to make your first year with the NDSU Extension Service better, please contact your supervisor (district director, assistant director or department chair) or Deb Gebeke, Assistant Director, Staff Development.
debra.gebeke@ndsu.edu

The workplace is composed of many people who are different from us, and being able to work with diversity is important for everyone. Diversity can mean a variety of things to different people. Diversity can be different perspectives, ideas, culture, religion, personalities, physical abilities and much more. We are all different, and these differences lead to creativity and innovation in the workplace.

The NDSU Extension Service began a focused effort for its staff in 1999 with the Change Agent States for Diversity (CASD) project. Click here to learn more.

To learn more about the importance of diversity and civil rights, review the NDSU Extension Service Civil Rights Plan. More information is available in the For Employee - Diversity and Civil Rights section on the NDSU Extension Service web site.

Responsibilities for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in Extension Programs

Notice in Program Announcements

Please be sure that your announcements about programs include not only the standard equal opportunity language (NDSU is an equal opportunity institution) but also an invitation for individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to notify you prior to the program. Specify a date by which individuals should notify you so that you have adequate time to make the appropriate arrangements. For example: Requests for accommodations related to disability should be made to (your name) one week before scheduled class. (Use this when it is a series of classes.)

If the class is just offered once you may actually put the date into the document such as 1-17-07.

Accommodations

One of the most likely requests would be for a sign language interpreter. Since interpreters are in short supply, it's a good idea to check around your community to see if there are interpreters available and, if not, what others in the community know about availability in the surrounding area. ASI Professional Associates in Fargo provides interpreter services and may be able to identify individuals in your area who provide this service (701-241-7847 or 800-930-9424- pager). Some recommendations for accommodating employees with poor eyesight are to provide better lighting in their work area, stairways, hallways, and bathrooms, larger computer screens with bigger print , use larger font on printed materials, make sure stairs, isles and work areas are clean and free of clutter.

Providing sign language interpretation and other accommodations is required by law and not optional. However, there are often alternatives to how the accommodation is provided. Handling requests for accommodation is often a public relations matter; that is, the way the requests are handled may be more important than how the accommodation is made. If you have questions when responding to these requests, please contact Sandra Holbrook, Director of Equity and Diversity at NDSU, 701-231-7708.

Alternative Formats

You may get requests to provide information in alternative formats, for example, a written piece on audiotape for a person with a visual impairment. Agriculture Communication is prepared to help you with such requests. Call Agriculture Communication at 701-231-7881 to make arrangements in advance and before you make a commitment to provide information in a particular format or by a particular date. Certainly, we have a responsibility to provide the information within a reasonable period of time, but what's reasonable may vary with the request.

Get Involved

Print the following statement and keep it handy as a reference for the next meeting you organize. "Requests for accommodations related to disability should be made to (your name) one week before scheduled class." If you are only offering one session, simply use the date you want as the deadline.

Next Session

Yes, you're probably "the Extension agent" even at the restaurant, grocery store or church. How can you help keep Extension as your career rather than your life? Hints next week in Balancing Work and Personal Life.