INFORMS Open Forum

  • 1.  How can INFORMS be more Accessible? Share your thoughts!

    Posted 12-06-2021 09:14
    As part of the 2021 INFORMS Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassadors program, you are invited to participate in a research study to better understand (1) the level of awareness of disability and accessibility needs and (2) the accessibility experiences of people within the operations research and management science fields, including barriers to accessibility and suggestions for how professional societies like INFORMS can be more accessible. This study has been reviewed and approved by the Northeastern University Institutional Review Board (# 21-08-23).

    There are two ways you can participate in this study:
    1.  Survey - Open to Everyone: The anonymous survey will take approximately 10 minutes and includes questions about your level of awareness of disabilities, accessibility needs, and suggestions for how professional societies can be more accessible. We encourage everyone to participate in the survey, regardless of whether or not you identify as having a disability. You can take the survey using this link: https://tinyurl.com/ORMSDisabilitySurvey 
    2. Interview - Focused on People with Accessibility Needs (Broadly Defined): We also seek participants to engage in a confidential, 1-hour paid interview to discuss their experiences as a disabled person or person that would benefit from accommodations in the operations research and management sciences fields and suggestions for improved accessibility. You may participate in the interview portion of this study if you identify with any of the following:
      • Have challenges fully participating in conferences due to a physical or mental health reason
      • Would benefit from accommodations at conferences to address your physical or mental health needs
      • Have chronic pain or a chronic illness
      • Have a physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities
      Interview participants will receive a $50 Visa gift card after completing the interview. You can indicate your interest in participating in an interview using this link: https://tinyurl.com/ORMSDisabilityInterview

    Additional information about the anonymous nature of the survey and confidential nature of the interview can be found in the Participant Information Sheets:
    If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact the Northeastern University Principal Investigator, Kayse Lee Maass by phone: 617.373.3629 or email: k.maass@northeastern.edu.

    Thank you for your help in making the ORMS community more accessible to all,

    Kayse Lee Maass and Kezban Yagci Sokat
    INFORMS DEI Ambassadors and co-PIs

    ------------------------------
    Kayse Maass
    Assistant Professor
    Northeastern University
    Boston,MA
    k.maass@northeastern.edu
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: How can INFORMS be more Accessible? Share your thoughts!

    Posted 12-08-2021 07:54

    Kayse,
    This is a great project. Thank you for doing this on behalf of the OR/MS and analytics community. I just completed the questionnaire. It is excellent and will serve INFORMS well.

    I encourage everyone in our community to complete it, regardless of ability/disability. Also, please encourage your peers to complete it. It is not limited to INFORMS members.

    Elena



    ------------------------------
    Elena Gerstmann
    Executive Director
    INFORMS
    egerstmann@informs.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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