Astronomy exists in the context of this society and is based in ableism. To that end, WGAD will work to:
- Identify, document, and eliminate the barriers to access (including access to information) that impact disabled astronomers and students;
- Actively address the intersections of ableism with racism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, and classism;
- Increase accessibility for disabled astronomers and students;
- Support the current professional astronomy community to bring people with disabilities into the workforce;
- Recognize disability by teaching disability history, specifically including the disability history of astronomy;
- Work to discourage the erasure of disability in astronomy;
- Promoting knowledge of the roots of ableism and the effects in our classrooms and workplaces to change it;
- Change the culture within astronomy to remove the stigma associated with disability and to value accessibility as a human right;
- Promote the development and use of access tools and software; and
- Build community among disabled astronomers and students.
Read more about the founding ideals of WGAD in our working group formation proposal document.