CityLab quotes DePoy in article on commuting with an ‘invisible’ condition

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

March 24, 2017 In the News, School of Social Work

The Atlantic’s CityLab quoted Elizabeth DePoy, coordinator of interdisciplinary disability studies and professor of social work at the University of Maine, in the article “Do you know who needs your subway seat?” People dealing with chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness or other health issues may not have any visible symptoms or an assistive device such as a cane or wheelchair, rendering their condition “invisible,” according to the article. “When we think of disability on the public transportation system, we’re really thinking about wheelchairs and people who can’t see,” Depoy said. “When you look at a disability sign, you see a wheelchair, you see a cane, you see an ear, and you see an eye. There’s nothing that says or stipulates policy for anybody else.” This spring, Transport for London (TfL) will issue badges with the message, “Please offer me a seat,” which are intended to be worn by passengers with invisible conditions to encourage others to offer their seats to fellow commuters who may not ‘look’ disabled, the article states.