Disability & Research Safety Infrastructure (DRSI)
Working towards safer, more accessible research and creative practice spaces at U-M
The Disability & Research Safety Infrastructure (DRSI) Project is funded through the Office of the Provost’s Disability Scholarship Initiative, which supports research aimed at better understanding and addressing the experiences of faculty and staff with disabilities on the Ann Arbor campus.
Led by faculty in the Medical School, the DRSI project brings together researchers and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) professionals to examine how disability accommodations are accessed and implemented in research and creative practice spaces.
Research labs, studios, and maker spaces are essential to teaching, discovery, and creative work at U-M. DRSI aims to strengthen the systems and practices that help ensure these spaces are safe, accessible, and welcoming for people with a wide range of needs.
What we’re working on
DRSI focuses on three core areas:
- Access: Making it easier to understand where to go and who to contact when accommodations are needed in research or creative spaces
- Safety: Identifying barriers in spaces, processes, and infrastructure that may impact safe participation
- Belonging: Supporting environments where faculty, staff, and trainees feel comfortable raising concerns and seeking support
Campus-wide Survey
The DRSI Project is conducting a campus-wide survey to better understand experiences with accessibility, accommodations, and safety in research and creative practice environments at U-M.
We are interested in a broad range of experiences, including those related to disability as well as conditions, needs, and functional limitations that may affect how people work. The survey is open to U-M faculty, staff, trainees, and others who conduct research, scholarship, or creative practice, as well as those who supervise people working in these environments.
The survey asks about:
- Experiences with accommodations and support
- Research and creative practice workspaces and environments
- Awareness of available resources and processes
- Accessibility and safety in these environments
Survey responses are anonymous. A brief eligibility screening is included, and not everyone who begins the survey will be asked to complete the full questionnaire.
The survey is open through October 30 and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
Survey findings will help identify ways to connect people with resources, develop best practices, and inform practical approaches to improving accessibility and safety in research and creative practice environments at U-M.
Stay Connected
More information about upcoming project activities and findings will be shared here.
If you’re interested in learning more about the project or staying informed as the work progresses, please email us at [email protected]
