Episode 4: Jason Anderson

Episode Number 4 — Image: #4 Jason Anderson. June 17, 2020. #stopthestereotype

Self-accommodation, self-advocacy and building resilience with Jason Anderson

Episode 4

Click to listen on Apple Podcasts — https://apple.co/3bHvZxK

In this episode, we discuss

Self-accommodation, self-advocacy and building resilience with Jason Anderson. How do we make accommodations for ourselves, learn how to self-advocate, and figure out what we need so that we can get what we need to be successful? What does it mean to build resilience? What are some resources in the community to help students with disabilities?

Highlights include:

How Jason became involved in disability services (3:01)
The differences between little “d” and big “D” in the Deaf community (4:53)
Asking for help (10:31)
What is self-accommodation and how do we build self-advocacy skills? (12:14)
The differences between 504, IDEA Act and ADA (16:12)
What is the process for working with an Access Specialist? (20:55)
How do you have the conversation about accommodations with your instructor? (23:06)
What is resilience and how do you build it? (24:55)
Jason’s example of advocating for captions as a student (28:10)
What are some resources out there to help students? (31:55)
Do you have any final advice? (38:32)

Resources Mentioned

Independence First (Metro Milwaukee): https://www.independencefirst.org/home
Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/
Accessibility Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee: https://uwm.edu/arc/
Anderson, Jason. The Art of Self-Accommodation. TedTalk, 2016. https://youtu.be/ac1mOswXxLs
Anderson, Jason. Episode 38: Cochlear Implants and the Deaf Community with Jason Anderson. A Year of Listening, 2018. http://ayearoflistening.libsyn.com/episode-38-cochlear-implants-and-the-deaf-community-with-jason-anderson

About Jason Anderson

Jason P. Anderson is an Access Specialist for students with disabilities and has been with UW Milwaukee since 2013. He grew up hard-of-hearing and became deaf as an adult. He has two cochlear implants and is proficient in American Sign Language (ASL). Jason is an alumnus of UW- Milwaukee (Sociology and American Sign Language Studies) and after seven years of working in the ARC, has returned to work on his master’s degree in Counseling (Graduation, 2021). He is a longtime member of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessibility Advisory Committee (ADAAAC), a campus disability advisory body to the Chancellor. He also serves on the Housing Financial Appeals Committee and is a member of the Association on Higher Education and Disability.

Jason believes students with disabilities deserve equal opportunities to succeed. His relationship with deafness, hearing loss, and disability allows him the unique opportunity to see multiple perspectives when working with students and staff. He has presented at conferences across the country about disability and the importance of self-advocacy, including a TEDx talk at UW-Milwaukee, called The Art of Self-Accommodation.

When Jason isn’t working or volunteering, his time is spent with his wife and young son. Jason is an award-winning homebrewer and enjoys creating unique brews that he shares with friends and family.