Skip to main contentWestern Washington University Western Washington University
  • Calendar
  • Directory
  • Index
  • Map
  • myWestern
Refine search

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative

Disability Culture, Scholarship, and Community

Search
  • Home
    • DSAC Network
  • Institute
    • People
    • ICDS Student Advisory Council
    • ICDS DSAC 2023 Annual Showcase
    • ICDS Scholars Week
  • Academic Program
    • DISA Courses
    • Minor in Critical Disability Studies
  • Fellows Program
  • Student Employment & Scholarships
    • Mark West Scholarship
    • Scholarships for CDS Minors
    • Grad Teaching Assistantships
  • 2025 UnConference
  • Resources
    • Support and Discussion Groups
    • ICDS Student Advisory Council
    • Workshops and Resource Pages
  • Events and Announcements
    • Upcoming Events
      • DSAC Annual UnConference
      • Support and Discussion Groups
      • All Other Events
    • Past Events Archive
    • Newsletters and Reports

Search Results for: 2023

Celebrate Our New Minor in Disability Studies on Thursday, March 09

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies (ICDS) is celebrating our newly-approved minor with a Critical Disability Studies Minor Launch Party reception held on Thursday March 09 from 11 am – 1 pm!  This will be a hybrid event happening in-person in CV 103 and on Zoom (ID: 944 1607 6204, passcode icds); all are welcome!  Come and meet the growing ICDS community.  

Download an iCal calendar event file here, which contains full event details and Zoom link.  Even if you are not able to make any part of the event, virtually or in person, the Western community is invited to sign the virtual “Guest Book” with messages.

Tentative program:

  • 11:00 am – coffee, refreshments, and mingling
  • 11:15 am – cutting the cake!
  • 11:30 am – introductory remarks: Brad Johnson (Provost)
  • 11:45 am – co-directors recognition: Allison Giffen (hiring committee) and Tim Kowalczyk (interim advisory council)
  • 12-12:30 pm – time for brief “Toasts” to the program: remarks from students & faculty
  • 12:30-:50 pm – additional time for refreshments and conversation

Please contact icds@wwu.edu with accessibility needs or questions

About the in-person (CV 103) reception:

  • Refreshments will be available until the reception’s close; allergen-friendly refreshments including vegan & gluten-free cake provided.
  • Remarks from the Provost’s opening remarks, co-directors recognition, and “Toasts” will be broadcast on projector screen with closed captioning.

About the hybrid (Zoom) reception:

  • The virtual reception room will be open from 11 am – 12:50 pm
  • From 11:30 – 12:30 pm, we will be streaming the Provost’s opening remarks, co-directors recognition, and “Toasts”
  • Join us at this Zoom link (ID: 944 1607 6204, passcode icds)

A letter from the ICDS co-directors

December 30, 2022

To the Disability Studies & Action Collaborative Community:

As 2022 draws to a close, we wanted to first take a moment to thank you for your part in our community: whether as student, alumni, UnConference participant, affiliated faculty, WWU staff, professional or corporate affiliate, community member near and far, and including those of us who have needed to step away from Western and/or ICDS work for various reasons.  You have our deep appreciation and hope for a safe, warm, and restorative holiday season.

The remainder of this message is intended to summarize things to remember and celebrate, as well as things to look forward to as we get 2023 rolling.

2022 Milestones and Celebrations

Several of our exciting milestones and highlights from this year:

  • Official launch of the WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies
    • No longer just a pipe dream from the very first UnConference in 2019, the Disability Studies Steering Committee continued work in earnest on events and programming, course development, and importantly, proposing the Institute through multiple rounds of listening sessions, pre-proposal, and finally proposal.  The ICDS was officially launched in the Spring Quarter of 2022 as an Institute housed under Academic Affairs.  With the co-director searches concluding in Fall 2022, Andrew and GIM (previously interim co-directors) will begin their official appointments in Winter Quarter 2023.
  • Official launch of the academic program in Disability Studies
    • The new DISA course prefix was added to the WWU Course Catalog, and approved to be used beginning this 2022-23 academic year.
  • Proposals for a new minor and new core courses in Critical Disability Studies submitted Dec 2022!
    • An extra thank you to the faculty and students contributing to the DS Minor Task Force in the final push to prepare materials for the minor and help us get everything submitted before the quarter’s end!
    • Learn more about the new minor here.
  • Successful return of the DSAC UnConference
    • After a couple years of hiatus, we transitioned the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Fall 2022 UnConference from a one-day and fully in-person event to a hybrid in-person and remote event covering two days of workshops, panels, and talks.  Participants were primarily local to the Pacific Northwest, but we had involvement from across the U.S. and Canada.
  • Students recognized through a new ICDS scholarship
    • The inaugural Mark West Scholarship was established this year and awarded to our first two recipients: Graduate student Pheonix Booth and undergraduate student Hillary Banks.
  • Students supported and employed through the ICDS
    • We are incredibly grateful to our first Graduate TAs (GTAs), who have been involved at the ICDS in many projects including: UnConference organizing and student staff mentorship, Student Advisory Council creation, and feedback in committees and ad-hoc task forces.
    • We are also thankful for the work of 11 additional student employees who staffed and moderated events at the Fall 2022 UnConference and helped the technical logistics of our hybrid conference to run smoothly.

2023 Upcoming Winter Quarter Highlights

Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates coming out at the beginning of this year:

  • Winter 2023: News on DS Minor and new courses proposed in Fall 2022
    • We are looking forward to sharing the status of our new courses and new Minor in Critical Disability Studies later this quarter.
  • January 2023: ICDS Fellows will begin their year-long Fellowship
    • Beginning this Winter and culminating in presentations at the Fall 2023 UnConference in October, our very first ICDS Fellows cohort will begin planning and implementation of projects centered around disability scholarship and advocacy.
      • We are still accepting applications for the 2023 cohort! If you would like to be considered for an ICDS Fellowship or are interested in becoming a Project Mentor, read more about the program here.  Fellows application deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, January 02, 2023.

Note – Action item for Faculty & Staff ICDS Affiliates:

  • If you are official ICDS-affiliated WWU Faculty or Staff, please check your entries in the ICDS “People” page and let us know via this form with any additions or changes we should make.

Early in January, we’ll be sending out an email with meeting agenda and scheduling for our next quarterly Disability Studies and Action Collaborative (Disability Studies Steering Committee) general meeting, so we’ll get to catch up with you more at that time! 

We hope you have a good remainder of your Winter intersession and a Happy New Year!

With gratitude,

-ICDS co-directors
GIM (he/they) & Andrew (he/him)
icds@wwu.edu

P.S. You can make a year-end tax-deductible donation to the WWU ICDS here.

Subscribe or unsubscribe from the WWU ICDS mailing list using this google form

Disability Studies Institute, Disability Studies Minor, Events, ICDS Fellows Program, Scholarships 2022, Disability Studies Institute, Letters from the Co-Directors

Reminder: ICDS Fellows Program Application Deadline

The ICDS Fellows Program application is due at 11:59 pm on Monday, Jan 02, 2023.  Read more about the Fellows Program here: https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/fellows/

Two Year-End Announcements from the Institute For Critical Disability Studies

The ICDS is announcing two exciting programs to wrap up 2022. 

First, visit this page to get a preview of the Critical Disability Studies minor, which is set to begin in Fall 2023. Check out a video about the program and give us some feedback. 

Second, visit this page to find out about our first annual ICDS Fellows program. We are seeking applications from faculty, staff, and community members until January 2nd, 2023.

As always, reach out to Andrew Lucchesi and G McGrew, the ICDS co-directors, at icds@wwu.edu

Join the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative mailing list for newsletters and events!

 

Disability Studies Institute, Disability Studies Minor, Events

New ICDS Fellows Program launching!

The WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies is excited to announce the launch of a new Fellows Program to support faculty, staff, and community members with one-year fellowships to develop programs and carry out projects related to disability scholarship and advocacy.

A cohort of at least five Fellows will meet with peer Fellows and Program Mentors throughout the calendar year and learn from each other’s skills and interests. The fellowship award is $3,000 for the one-year duration of the program.

The application deadline for the 2023-4 Fellows cohort is 11:59 pm on Monday, January 02, 2023.

Learn more about the ICDS Fellows Program Here

Disability Studies Institute, ICDS Fellows Program Fellowships, ICDS Fellows Program

From the Archives – Introducing the Minor in Critical Disability Studies

This page was originally created in Fall 2022 to introduce our new Minor in Critical Disability Studies to the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative and newly-formed Institute for Critical Disability Studies community. People interested in learning more about the program could read or watch the video and provide feedback to the co-directors in advance of the Minor going live.

The long-awaited Minor was approved soon thereafter, and the codes to declare were activated in April 2023, so we were finally set to formally open the program for the Fall 2023 academic year. We found that many students were quite excited to be able to declare the Minor, so much so that we actually had four students declare the minor early, in Spring and Summer 2023. By the end of Fall 2024, 25 students had declared, from First-year to Senior.

The following contents for the page are an archived description of the Minor as we were planning it in 2022. Our program has expanded significantly since then. If you’d like to read our most up-to-date description and information on the minor, please visit our current Minors page here.


Introducing the Minor in Critical Disability Studies (introductory video as it was in development)

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies proposed a new minor to launch in Fall 2023. We created this video so that you could learn more about it before it was launched.

After visitors finished the video, they were invited to give ICDS feedback using the form at the bottom of the page.

Download the PowerPoint slides of this presentation, which includes the script, through this link.

If you want to find out more about the minor or the Institute for Critical Disability Studies, contact icds@wwu.edu

Click to join the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Outlook group for email, newsletters, and events
Feedback on the Minor Preview

Please provide some feedback on our minor in critical disability studies

The WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies would love to get your feedback on our program and critical disability studies minor.

Contact information, optional:

Clear my responses and start over

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Documenting Grace’ dance film festival kick-off and films sponsored by ICDS

Invitation to Dance on November 13th

Join us for a kick-off event for Kuntz & Co’s new film festival series, “Documenting Grace”. On Sunday, November 13th, ICDS will be sponsoring their screening of Invitation to Dance, a documentary film by Simi Linton, and a 20-min pre-screening discussion. Proceeds from the screening will go toward Dance for All Bodies.

  • When: Sunday, November 13th, 6:00 pm 
  • Location: Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue, Fairhaven
  • Tickets: $12 general; $6 discounted student (promo code: ‘wheels’)
  • Download a calendar file for the screening here.

The film will be shown with open captions and audio description to provide access for low vision/blind audience members. Questions or for disability accommodations contact Pam at 360-510-4711 or kuntzpam@gmail.com

Tickets to “Invitation to Dance” – Nov 13, 6:00 pm

More events to come!

Stay tuned for information on our next ICDS event accompanying Pam’s “Documenting Grace” series, co-sponsored with Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation. Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

Tickets to “Capturing Grace” – April 16, 4:00 pm

Disability Studies Institute, Events 2022, arts, dance, disability, film festival

People – Institute for Critical Disability Studies

Institute for Critical Disability Studies Co-Directors

The ICDS is currently headed by two half-time co-directors. Andrew (English), and GIM (College of Science and Engineering) are faculty at WWU. You can contact them at ICDS@wwu.edu.

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Kristen Chmielewski

she/her

Faculty, Recreation Management & Leadership
Teaches: DISA 330

A nonbinary person with lighter brown skin wearing a blue shirt with maroon necktie, a white N95 mask, large rectangular glasses, and a black beret cocked to one side, looking toward the camera.

GIM (G McGrew)

he/they

Senior Instructor, College of Science & Engineering

Teaches: DISA 350

Find office hours for Co-directors, Graduate Assistants, and Faculty teaching DISA courses here

Affiliated Members

The diverse faculty, staff, students, and community members who contribute to the critical disability studies program represent colleges and departments across Western Washington University as well as collaborators outside of Western.

WWU Faculty and Staff

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Elizabeth Boland

Professor, Health and Community Studies

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Kathleen Brian

Senior Instructor, Global Humanities and Religions
Teaches: DISA 450, the Capstone in Critical Disability Studies

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Kat DeNicola

she/her

Access Manager, Disability Access Center

A woman with dark, shoulder-length hair and small golden earrings, wearing a black blazer, and white and blue floral top. She is standing in front of a tree bearing red fall foliage and is smiling at the camera.

Yasmine Elglaly

Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Teaches: Critical Disability Studies Minor elective: Accessible Computing

Yasmine’s webpage

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

David Engebretson

he/him

Digital Technologies Accessibility Coordinator

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Kyann Flint

Instructor, Critical Disability Studies
Teaches: DISA 330, DISA 350 Topics in Critical Disability Studies

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Lindsay Foreman-Murray

Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Inclusive Teaching
Teaches: Cross-listed DISA 350 Topics in Critical Disability Studies

A woman with very pale hair wearing dark-rimmed glasses and sweater, sitting in a wooden chair in front of a bookshelf filled with old books

Allison Giffen

she/her

Faculty, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Teaches: Electives for Critical Disability Studies Minor

Allison’s webpage

I am a professor in the English department and specialize in 19th-century American literature and culture with an emphasis in disability studies and critical childhood studies. My current research in explores the intersections of race, disability, and childhood in late 19th-century literature.
Note: Allison was our Interim Co-director in Spring 2023

A white man with wide rectangular glasses and facial hair. His light brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail. He is wearing a maroon button shirt and smiling at the camera in front of a flowering shrub.

Tim Kowalczyk

he/him

Chemistry & Energy Studies

Tim.Kowalczyk@wwu.edu
Tim’s webpage

A woman with short wavy gray hair and glasses and wearing a red tank top is smiling and walking forward in front of an audience of seated elderly people

Pam Kuntz

she/her

Dance Program Advisor / Senior Instructor
Teaches: DISA 350, a core Topics course in the Critical Disability Studies Minor

pam.kuntz@wwu.edu
Pam’s webpage: kuntzandco.org

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Ceci Lopez

Assistant Professor of Law, Fairhaven
Teaches: Cross-listed DISA 350 Topics in Critical Disability Studies: Disability & Law

A selfie photo of a white man with a rainbow-colored flower earring and blue-rimmed glasses. He is wearing a jacket, and standing with a cloudy forest of trees in the background.

Andrew Lucchesi

he/they

Associate Professor, English

Teaches: DISA 330, DISA 350, DISA 450

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Scot Nichols

Fairhaven College

A man with short hair and slight beard wearing a jacket, sweatshirt, and jeans, standing with hands in pockets

Joseph Mogharreban

he/him

Director, Disability Access Center

mogharj@wwu.edu

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Tara Perry

she/her

Professor, Department of Communication Studies, faculty affiliate to Institute for Critical Disability Studies and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies

perryt@wwu.edu

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Candice Styer

Instructor of Special Education, Woodring

A fair-skinned nonbinary person with short light-brown hair, maroon framed glasses, and ear rings smiling at the camera in front of a nature background. They are wearing a grey collared shirt with green paisley neck tie.

Anika Tilland-Stafford, PhD 

they/them

Senior Instructor, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Honors College
Teaches: DISA 330, Critical Disability Studies

Office: Miller Hall 415D

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Adrian J. Villicana

Assistant Professor, Social Psychology, Fairhaven

A man with short blond hair and a grey sweater sitting outdoors

Daman Wandke

Instructor, Educational Leadership and Inclusive Teaching
Teaches: DISA 330 Critical Disability Studies and DISA 350 Topics in Critical Disability Studies; Electives for the CDS Minor; DISA 201 Stories of Disability in the World

Contact: wandked@wwu.edu

Collaborators and Community Members

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Pau Abustan

||All Pronouns||

Formerly Visiting Assistant Professor, Women Gender, and Sexuality Studies

A Hispanic man with short salt and pepper hair and round glasses, smiling at the camera. He is wearing a blue collared shirt and grey blazer with a subtle grid pattern, and he is standing in front of green plants in the background.

Sean Bruna

he/him

Sean’s webpage

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Graduate TAs assist the operations of the Institute in many invaluable ways, including event logistics and planning, course and curriculum feedback, office hours, and student mentorship and leadership organizing.

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Fred Engelfried

Graduate Student, Environmental Studies / Urban Planning

ICDS GTA Fall 2024 – Spring 2026

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Kat Smith

Graduate Student

ICDS GTA Fall 2025 – Spring 2026

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Pheonix Booth

Graduate Student

ICDS GTA Fall 2025 – Spring 2026

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Sam Carvalho

Graduate Student

ICDS GTA Fall 2025 – Winter 2026

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Maggie Minogue

Graduate Student

ICDS GTA Fall 2025

Our Previous ICDS Graduate Assistants

The ICDS is grateful for the work that our Graduate Assistants have done to help the Institute meet our growing and changing needs, from helping to plan and manage events, to TAing course in our Minor. We would like to acknowledge them here:

Photo of Sarah standing in a wood-toned performance space and smiling at the camera. She is a light-skinned woman with glasses and wavy brown shoulder-length hair, in a black sleeveless shirt, fingers of both hands joined to cradle the butt end of a silver and black clarinet that is leaning against her right shoulder.

Sarah Lucas-Page

she/her
Graduate Student, Music and Performing Arts
ICDS GTA Fall 2024 – Spring 2025

Sarah Lucas-Page is an award-winning composer and clarinetist who has dedicated her life to the art of music and activism… [read more]

Sarah Lucas-Page is an award-winning composer and clarinetist who has dedicated her life to the art of music and activism by continually pushing the boundaries of her creative expression. She has been creating and performing new clarinet music to help fight injustice and bring awareness to issues within the LGBTQIA+ community, Fat Body Politics, Women, and Neurodivergent people. Lucas-Page is pursuing her master’s degree in music composition at Western Washington University, studying with Dr. Charles Halka, Dr. Robert Hamilton, and Dr. Rachel Yoder. She is a Graduate Assistant for the Institute for Critical Disability Studies department and the music department.

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Lorraine Floyd

Graduate Student, Rehabilitation Counseling

ICDS GTA Fall 2023 – Fall 2024

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Eden Chapman

Graduate Student, Masters in Teaching
ICDS GTA Fall 2023 – Summer 2024

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Logo, in dark blue, blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S using colors and negative space.

Spike Osadchuk

Graduate Student, Anthropology
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – Winter 2024

Asian girl wearing a black blazer and a red blouse smiling.

Hidemi Mitani Shen

she/her

Graduate Student, Computer Science
ICDS GTA Fall 2022 – Spring 2023

Find office hours for Co-directors, Graduate Assistants, and Faculty teaching DISA courses here

ICDS Committees

For questions about joining Institute for Critical Disability Studies standing committees, ad-hoc committees, and task forces, please email icds@wwu.edu.

Standing Committees

  • Curriculum Committee*
    • DISA coursework approvals and interdisciplinary minor in critical disability studies
  • Programming (Events) Committee*
    • ICDS and community events, workshops, lectures, and other projects
  • Development Committee*
    • grants and fundraising
  • Outreach Committee*
    • publicity & collaborative relationship-building
  • Scholarships & Awards Committee*
    • ICDS scholarships and Scholars Week student recognitions

Advisory Councils

  • Student Advisory Council*
    • a student-organized body of undergraduate and graduate students providing recommendations to the ICDS
    • Leadership positions are compensated: learn more at student employment
  • ICDS Advisory Council* (formerly Interim Advisory Council)
    • an advisory council to the ICDS co-directors consisting of internal and external members

General Membership & Community

  • Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Community* (formerly DS Steering Committee)
    • The DSAC Community is open membership: Use this quick-join link to join our Outlook group, or fill out our mailing list form.
    • Students, Faculty, Staff, Administrators, Alumni, and Community Members from all backgrounds and abilities are welcome!

Ad-Hoc Committees and Task Forces

  • DS Minor Task Force
    • Objective: Complete submission of disability studies minor paperwork and propose additional core classes for the minor
    • COMPLETED!
  • ICDS ADEI Statement Task Force*
    • Objective: Collaboratively finish the Institute’s statement on accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

* = this committee is looking for additional members


Add or update my ICDS affiliation information

New ICDS Graduate Teaching Assistantships posted!

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies is hiring for two new graduate teaching assistant (GTA) positions for the 2022-2023 academic year! You can learn more and review the GTA position information and application instructions here.

Institute for Critical Disability Studies Logo, with an abstract graphic on the left side in blue, dark blue, and green, implying letters I, C, D, and S. The Western Washington University logo is on the right side.
Institute for Critical Disability Studies logo

Disability Studies Institute, Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Jobs Disability Studies Institute, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Student Employment

Working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Institute for Critical Disability Studies

Call for Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies (ICDS) is hiring graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) for the 2025-2026 academic year to support the Institute and its mission to promote disability studies coursework, host events that bridge he academic-community divide, and to support disability culture, awareness, and advocacy at Western Washington University.

We expect to hire two to three graduate students to serve in full-time salaried, half-time salaried, and/or hourly nonsalaried graduate teaching assistant (GTA) positions for individual Fall, Winter, and/or Spring quarters of 2025/26, and/or for the full 2025-2026 academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter).

The full details and application forms for this position can also be downloaded as a word document.

Application Deadline & Hiring Timeline

Application deadline for all 2025-26 ICDS GTA positions: 11:59 pm on Sunday, August 25, 2025.

Interviews for finalists will be conducted during the first week of September. Fall positions start on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Position Overview

ICDS GTA roles can span a broad range of support areas.  Responsibilities are decided with each GTA individually upon discussion and agreement between GTA and Institute Co-Directors.  Primary job responsibilities are intended to directly support the Institute, Critical Disability Studies coursework and minors, and the ICDS student community.

All GTAs hold regular weekly office hours (virtual or face-to-face), and serve as supporting members for the activities of the ICDS Student Advisory Council (SAC).  Specific additional responsibilities will be decided upon mutual discussion and agreement between individual GTAs and Institute Co-Directors in the areas of academic support, program support, and Institute support (see What are the GTA job responsibilities? section below). We will aim to choose work that both satisfies the ICDS needs and GTAs professional development goals. Specific roles may vary from quarter to quarter, depending on seasonal curricular and programmatic needs.

Example additional GTA responsibilities may include assisting with organizing events, web and social media work, and otherwise assisting with academic programming in Critical Disability Studies, including moderating discussions on disability-related topics and/or grading coursework within the Critical Disability Studies minor.

Position Details

Required qualifications

These are the minimum qualifications for working as an ICDS GTA. Meeting all of these qualifications is required in order to hire a candidate:

  • GTAs are expected to keep reliable and timely communication with ICDS co-directors and staff during business hours, including: email correspondence, responding to calendar invitations for scheduled meetings, and taking initiative to reschedule meetings that are missed.
  • GTAs should have experience in writing in genres including formal emails, event announcements, and profile articles. Clear prompts and coaching will be provided to improve your skills in this area.
  • GTAs must responsibly handle sensitive information, such as when working with confidential student or personal information and coursework.
  • GTAs must stay current on required WWU ADEI trainings and abide by ICDS policies on supporting accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI).
Preferred qualifications

Meeting one or more of these preferred qualifications makes the student a stronger candidate for the position, but are not required to be hired:

  • Knowledge and experience in disability studies, advocacy, accessibility, and/or universal design is highly preferred, but not required.
  • Proficiency in writing in diverse genres, including blogging, social media, email, meeting minutes, and summaries of events is preferred, but not required.
  • Experience in student or community leadership, for example in a student club or community organization is preferred, but not required.
What are the GTA job responsibilities?

ICDS GTA roles can span a broad range of support areas.  Primary job responsibilities are intended to directly support the Institute, Critical Disability Studies coursework and minors, and the ICDS student community. All GTAs hold regular weekly office hours (virtual or face-to-face), and serve as supporting members for the activities of the ICDS Student Advisory Council (SAC). 

Additional specific GTA responsibilities will include a curated subset of the following listed roles in three main areas of support need.  Roles are determined for each GTA individually upon mutual discussion and agreement between GTA and Institute Co-Directors. We will aim to choose work that both satisfies the ICDS needs and GTAs professional development goals. Specific roles may vary from quarter to quarter, depending on seasonal curricular and programmatic needs

  • Academic support
    • Work with faculty teaching disability studies courses outside of class time by grading, providing feedback on writing, and/or moderating online discussions
    • Work with faculty teaching disability studies courses to assist during class time with classroom activities and/or moderating topical discussions
    • Holding office hours for students in disability studies courses
    • Work with faculty to design curriculum on disability-related topics, if needed
  • Program support
    • Designing and/or delivering professional development workshops
    • Leading community support group activities
    • Helping to organize ICDS guest speaker event logistics
    • UnConference support: During and in advance of our October event:
      • Organizing and facilitating the annual UnConference panels and workshops
      • Mentoring and/or supervising UnConference student workers
    • Coordinating event logistics such as food and room setup, or designing and printing materials
    • Co-hosting and representing ICDS at outreach and informational tabling events
  • Institute support
    • Keeping records and reporting to ICDS co-directors: this includes attending and taking notes on ICDS meetings
    • Writing blog posts and newsletter articles about the ICDS programs
    • Mentoring undergraduate student workers
    • Serving on standing committees
    • Serving in a mentor and advisory role to support the operations of the ICDS Student Advisory Council (SAC)
    • Interfacing with various offices and WWU student groups
Who can apply to be an ICDS GTA?

This position is open to all WWU graduate students regardless of disability status or field of study.

We are particularly interested in welcoming applicants with diverse and intersecting identities, particularly disabled, neurodivergent, chronically ill, BIPOC, queer and gender non-conforming individuals, and veterans.

Please note: If your graduate program is not state-supported (i.e. is offered through OCE, office of continuing education), you cannot received salaried GTA support and must apply for an hourly nonsalaried position.

Hours, pay, and benefits

Note: Due to funding, the ICDS GTA positions are only available as half-time salaried or hourly nonsalaried for AY 2025-26. We are not able to hire on full-time GTAs this year.

GTA positions are typically available as full-time salaried, half-time salaried, and hourly nonsalaried. The position requires approximately 20 hours per week for full-time appointments, 10 hours per week for half-time, and between 5-9 hours per week for hourly (non-salaried) positions.

Salaried GTAs will receive the standard pay and health insurance benefits of an academic graduate teaching assistant. Full-time and half-time salaried positions include full graduate tuition waivers.  Compensation for hourly nonsalaried GTA positions will be consistent with the current wage schedule for graduate assistants.

GTAs will report directly to the ICDS Co-Directors. Hourly GTA positions require timely reporting of hours through electronic time sheets maintained by the GTA and approved by the ICDS.

How to apply to be an ICDS GTA

To apply, submit your Resume/CV and the ICDS Graduate Assistant Application attached to the end of the Job Description word document; it includes basic applicant info, interest survey, and space for an approx. 1 page cover letter. Send documents to icds@wwu.edu and cc both mcgrewg2@wwu.edu and lucchea@wwu.edu “ICDS Graduate Assistant Application” and your last name.

The application and cover letter should explain the following information:

  • whether you are applying for the full-time (20 hours/wk salaried), half time (10 hours/wk salaried), or hourly nonsalaried GTA position (5 – 9 hours/wk)
  • what quarter(s) you are applying for: Full Academic year, Fall Quarter, Winter Quarter, and/or Spring Quarter
  • your home graduate department and your year in the program
  • whether there is any flexibility or uncertainty in your need for employment with the ICDS
  • describe your interest in the position and the personal experience that qualifies you for the position, including how you meet the job’s required and preferred qualifications
  • identify which subsets of the proposed job responsibilities you are most excited to take on under Academic, Programming, and Institute Support (see What are the GTA Job Responsibilities? under Position Details)

Applications are due 11:59 pm Sunday, August 25th.

Applications are currently OPEN

ICDS GTA Position Description 2025-26 (Word Document)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the ICDS Graduate Teaching Assistant positions

What is the difference between the full-time salaried, part-time salaried, and hourly nonsalaried appointments?

These appointments differ in salary, benefits, minimum enrollment to apply, and whether other campus jobs can be accepted simultaneously. Paychecks are disbursed twice a month).

  • full-time salaried: 
    • 20 hours/week ICDS Graduate Assistant Work
    • salary: $6024 per quarter paid in 6 installments
    • tuition waiver: Full (waiver does not cover student fees: full table of cost here)
    • benefits include health insurance
    • enrollment: must be enrolled full-time, or at least 8 credits per quarter of employment in a state-supported WWU graduate program
    • Other campus jobs: No other campus jobs can be accepted
      • generally, a graduate student is limited to 6 quarters of salaried GTA work through the WWU Graduate School.
  • half-time salaried: 
    • 10 hours/week ICDS Grad Assistant Work
    • salary: $3012 per quarter, in 6 installments
    • tuition waiver: Partial (full table of cost here)
    • benefits include health insurance
    • enrollment: must be enrolled full-time, or at least 8 credits per quarter of employment in a state-supported WWU graduate program
    • Other campus jobs: can be accepted, up to 9 hrs/wk
  • hourly nonsalaried:
    • 5 – 9 hours/week ICDS Grad Assistant Work
    • non-salaried hourly rate: consistent with the WWU wage schedule for graduate students
      • Student must record hours worked and submit biweekly time sheets that are then approved by the ICDS.
    • tuition waiver: None
    • student covers health insurance
    • enrollment: must be enrolled at least half-time, or 4 credits per quarter (graduate half-time)
      • Any WWU graduate student can be paid hourly, including grad students in continuing education (OCE) graduate programs.
    • Other campus jobs: can be accepted

Does a tuition waiver from a salaried graduate assistant position also cover fees?

No, the tuition waiver does not cover student fees: a full table of costs for 2023-2024 is linked here

Do I need to be enrolled as a full-time graduate student to work an ICDS GTA position?

For salaried (full-time and half-time) positions, you must be enrolled full-time, or 8 credits per quarter minimum, for each quarter you will be employed as a salaried grad assistant.

For non-salaried (hourly part-time) positions, you do not have to be enrolled full-time, but you do need to be enrolled at least half-time, or 4 credits per quarter minimum, for each quarter you will be employed as a grad assistant.


Archive

Previous years’ calls for GTAs.

  • 2024-2025 Call for ICDS Graduate TAs and Application, doc
  • 2023-2024 Call for ICDS Graduate TAs, PDF
  • 2022-2023 Call for ICDS Graduate TAs, PDF
« Previous Page
Next Page »

I want to…

  • Read Recent Announcements
  • Check out our Past Events
  • Learn about the Critical Disability Studies academic program
  • Take DISA Classes
  • Minor in Critical Disability Studies
  • Discover ICDS Resources
  • Apply for Scholarships and Student Jobs

Upcoming Events for this month

There are no events for this month.

Full calendar of events

May 2022
S M T W T F S
« Apr   Jun »
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

Subscribe for Updates

Please, insert a valid email.

Thank you, your email will be added to the mailing list once you click on the link in the confirmation email.

Spam protection has stopped this request. Please contact site owner for help.

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

WWU’s main campus occupies the ancestral homelands of the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, Coast Salish Peoples who have lived in the Salish Sea basin and throughout the San Juan Islands and North Cascades watershed from time immemorial. We express our deepest respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbors for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.

Western Washington University

516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

(360) 650-3000

Contact Western

  • Western Facebook
  • Western Instagram
  • Western Flickr
  • Western Youtube
  • Western Today RSS

Accessibility | Privacy