Hello and welcome to The Whole Me Campaign! This Presidential Administrative Innovation Fund (PAIF) initiative aims to cultivate a community that celebrates authenticity and disability as an important part of diversity.
Let’s all thrive—authentically
Whole Me works to destigmatize disabilities and encourage individuals with disabilities to live authentically in their professional lives. That’s because people—including those with mental health challenges, chronic illnesses, and visible or invisible disabilities—who live openly at work are less stressed, feel more involved, and have a greater sense of belonging.
Want to get involved?
There’s a lot you can do!
- Watch an inspiring webinar featuring acclaimed author and activist Brooke Ellison
- Register to become an Accessibility Ambassador
- Receive important updates by signing up for Whole Me communications
- Identify yourself as an individual with disabilities through PeopleSoft
“Learning about the Whole Me Campaign gave me so much hope that there could be a true shift at Harvard, where I can be honest and open about myself, my lived experiences, my limitations, and my strengths that are a result of my disabilities. This initiative has the potential to have a positive, affirming impact on those of us with disabilities, and it’s already giving me renewed hope for the future.” -Harvard employee
Reflections On Authenticity And The Strength Found In Life With Disability
To kick off the Whole Me Campaign, Dr. Brooke Ellison, AB '00, MPP '04 was invited as a keynote speaker at a webinar where she reflected on the power of authenticity and shared insights about living with a physical disability. She read from her book, Look Both Ways, and took part in a brief Q&A.
A former associate professor of Applied Bioethics at Stony Brook University, Brooke Ellison, PhD, MPP was just 11 years old when she was hit by a car and paralyzed from the neck down. With fierce determination and the loving support of her family, Brooke graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, before publishing a book, Miracles Happen, which was made into a movie, directed by Christopher Reeve. She went on to earn her Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School before running for the New York State senate and being granted an honorary degree from Rutgers University. Brooke served as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a director on the board of the New York Civil Liberties Union, a Truman National Security Project Political Partner, and a Human Rights Commissioner for Suffolk County.
The Whole Me Campaign team is deeply saddened to share that Brooke Ellison passed away on February 4, 2024. Brooke was a resilient disability rights activist and we are so grateful that she was a part of this project.
Become An Accessibility Ambassador
Looking to play an active role in making Harvard a more inclusive and welcoming place for individuals with disabilities? If so, consider becoming an Accessibility Ambassador. You’ll be making a commitment to acquiring a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities, and be better prepared to:
- Apply and advocate for best practices to help make Harvard more accessible and inclusive
- Know and advocate for where to send colleagues who wish to request reasonable accommodations, want to self-identify as having a disability, or seek other disability-related information
- Spread the word by sharing campaign information within your school and department
Interested? Register to become an Accessibility Ambassador.
Self-Identify As An Individual With Disabilities
To ensure that Harvard has accurate information about the percentage of its workforce that has a disability, we’re encouraging all employees who self-identify as an individual with disabilities to confidentially share their status in PeopleSoft.
If that includes you, simply:
- Click through to this form (HarvardKey required).
- Check “Yes I have a disability, or have a history/record of having a disability”
Self-Identifying as an individual with disabilities through Harvard's confidential system is not the same as disclosing a disability to a colleague or manager. The Self-Identifying information is used only for analytic purposes.
Let's Make Harvard The Best Place It Can Be—For Everyone
If you are an individual with disabilities committed to community-wide, intersectional inclusion, we encourage you to consider disclosing your disability to a few trusted colleagues.
Being open about your disability makes Harvard a more inclusive place to work by helping others feel more confident about sharing their distinct, personal experiences—of disability, race, culture, or gender identity.
When you bring your whole self to work, model behavior that encourages others to do the same, it benefits us all. If you are considering making a disclosure about your disability at work and wish to have a preliminary confidential conversation with a staff member from University Disability Resources, please email disabilityresources@harvard.edu.
Register For More Information
Don’t miss important news! Register to receive email updates from the Whole Me Campaign and/or opt-in to become an Accessibility Ambassador.
