Interview with Rosa Gonzalez : Disability at Stanford Oral History Project - Gonzalez, Rosa; Davis, Alison Carpenter; Stanford Historical Society (Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program Interviews, 2020)
Rosa Gonzalez, who retired as the director of the Diversity and Access Office at Stanford in 2022, shares details of her path to Stanford, her work on accessibility and non-discrimination policies here, and her personal experiences with macular degeneration. She describes joining the Stanford staff in the Office of Multicultural Development / Disability Resource Center in 1995 as the ADA Section 504 compliance officer, efforts to make Stanford’s campus more accessible, and the evolution of her role and office. Gonzalez also speaks about creating the Multicultural Springfest; change over time regarding accessibility, accommodations, and disability; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities.
Rosa Gonzalez joined the Stanford staff in 1995 as the ADA Section 504 compliance officer in the Office of Multicultural Development / Disability Resource Center, tasked with ensuring the university’s compliance with EEO laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She later became the director of that office, changing its name to the Diversity and Access Office. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, she grew up in Fresno, California. She earned her BA in History from Santa Clara University in 1980 and her JD from University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco in 1993.
Part 1 [00:00:00 – 00:29:48] Early life in Guadalajara, Mexico • Growing up in Fresno, California • Importance of reading and libraries in her life • Nearsighted vision in early childhood; wearing thick glasses and developing memorization strategies • Father’s work as a family practitioner and her interest in medicine • Attending Santa Clara University (SCU) and Catholic schools • Lack of racial diversity in her schools and neighborhood • Impact of wearing contact lenses • Developing macular degeneration at age 20 • Studying abroad at University of Madrid and traveling [00:29:48 – 01:00:36] Eye surgery wiping out central vision in left eye • Strangers’ random acts of kindness • Transition from an invisible to a more visible disability • Gratitude for the Jesuit teaching model • Studying history and liberation struggles at SCU • Living in an all-women dorm • Requesting larger print for readings • Joining the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and working as a second-grade teacher in Los Angeles [01:00:36 – 01:31:22] Joys and challenges of teaching second-grade • Working for the Social Service Department in Fresno • Working on a UCLA mammography project to increase participation of Latina and African American women • Developing macular degeneration in her right eye at age 28 • Decision to apply to law school; impact of computer technology • Eye doctors at Stanford • Difficult first year at University of California Hastings School of Law • Lack of accommodations at law school • Smoking as a way of escaping anxiety • Organizing an accommodations program for her law school in 1991 • Participating in the Legal Education Opportunity Program and interactions with other students [01:31:22 – 01:57:12] Using her computer, large font, and extra time for exams in law school; support from dean Patsy Oppenheim • Strong support system and work ethic • Memories of attending St. Barnabas in the Tenderloin • Interning for a product liability plaintiff firm in Santa Monica • Feeling a sense of urgency to travel • Running the accommodations program during law school; increasing confidence
Part 2 [00:00:00 – 00:33:44] Interest in health policy and children’s rights law • Advocating for accommodations for the bar exam; a stressful testing situation • Job after law school • Joining Stanford staff as the ADA Section 504 officer in the Disability Resource Center / Office of Multicultural Development • 1990s efforts to increase building access • Conducting a university-wide building accessibility evaluation • Capital plan for accessibility projects; examples of projects, including fountains [00:33:44 – 00:59:28] Close relationships with Stanford students with disabilities • Continuation of ADA barrier removal project today • Reviewing construction plans for accessibility; design standards • Role of Associate Director of Diversity and Access and ADA Program Director Sheila Sanchez • Overseeing Stanford’s non-discrimination policies, including admissions complaints • From Office of Multicultural Development to Diversity and Access Office [00:59:28 – 01:31:50] Working with Director of Campus Relations Sally Dickson • Multicultural Springfest • Changing attitudes about academic accommodations • Challenges of increased vision loss over time; advice to others regarding disclosing disabilities • Importance of her disability identity • Impact Stanford has had on her • Difficulty conducting Title IX sexual misconduct and sexual assault investigations in 2010s • Description of offices under the Institutional Equity and Access unit • Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on work [01:31:50 – 02:00:26] Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on personal life, especially transportation challenges • Language around disabilities today • Wishing for disability to be part of the diversity conversation • What a perfect world would be like: “seamless” access • Isolation because of pandemic [02:00:26 – 02:17:28] Becoming more empathetic because of disability • Asking others for help • Reflections on relationships with others with macular degeneration • Pride in remaining self-reliant • Ideas for future work and living situations
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Keywords: interview; Diversity and Access Office. Stanford University; Multicultural Springfest. Stanford University; People with disabilities