Leigha Compson

It was interesting for me to read that most LGBTQ individuals who experience discrimintation may choose to leave the job rather than stand up for their rights. This reminded me of the prior module about LGBTQ mentors as connecting individuals in this way could invaluable.

I appreciated the well organized considerations to guide a student through pros and cons. I also liked the idea of sharing the idea with a student who may not wish to include LGBTQ on their resume of rewording it to minority or diversity group so that their leadership skills and community involvement are still captured.

I loved the suggestion of trying to connect LGBTQ students with a mentor.  Helping to build a support network is critical.  I also had never thought about the fact that LGBTQ students might need more career advising due to their identiy exploration.

The video was very helpful in better understanding the differences between gender identity and gender expression.  Sometimes we may become so focused on trying to understand laws specific to the state where we live, we may lose sight of the importance of understanding differences across states.  The LGBTQ topic reminded me of the importance of recognizing differences since some states may offer more protection and therefore be more appealing job locations for some individuals.

The resource list is very helpful to have available when working with students.  The unconscious bias video was a good reminder and could be shared with coworkers.  

I appreciated the reminder to look at the whole person so they are not defined by their disability. I was surprised at the high unemployment rates for individuals with a disability.  I also think it's important to look deeper to consider how the possibility of low self-esteem can amplify potential barriers for individuals with a disability. 

This section included many helpful tips for communication.  It helped me to think about things differently such as not moving a door out of someone's hand as they could be using it for stability.  I also appreciated references to words to use and words to avoid to maintain sensitivity. 

I've learned that a critical distinction must be made between student accomodations for equal access vs. success.  The videos were helpful also to highlight legal considerations and to hear from an individual who advocated for equal access.