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CoSIDA.com/CoSIDA360 Magazine Archive
Note: This story appeared in the Spring 2020 May edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE
More than Able
Employers should focus on abilities, not disabilities, when making hires.
by Tommy Chasanoff – University of the Cumberlands, Sports Information Director // CoSIDA Diversity & Inclusion Committee member
The athletics communications field is a diverse profession with constituents from all walks of life and backgrounds that at its core has a passion for covering sports and student-athletes.
Whether it’s through their own playing experience or being a fan, that passion is one of the primary reasons we put in long hours working nights and weekends to cover our respective teams and institutions.
CoSIDA and its membership has been at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession and that extends to people with physical and mental disabilities.
While some people might perceive an individual as having a limitation or disability, that hasn’t stopped some athletic communication professionals from achieving their goals and succeeding in this industry. Anthony “AJ” O’Hagan from Yeshiva University, Tyler Birnbaum from University of Wisconsin-Superior, and myself are prime examples that if you focus on a person’s ability, they will rise to the challenge and not let obstacles stand in their way.
O’Hagan is the sports information director at Yeshiva where he oversees 15 varsity teams. Birnbaum has worked at the NCAA Division I level and is currently the sports information specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, serving as the primary contact for 19 sports. I’m the sports information director at the University of the Cumberlands, overseeing a department with 30 sports. I supervise a staff of six in addition to work-study students.
Current statistics show that roughly 19.4% of the U.S. population — or approximately 48.9 million people — have a diagnosed disability. I was born with cerebral palsy and a severe bilateral hearing loss. Birnbaum was born with cerebral palsy and utilizes a manual wheelchair for daily activities. O’Hagan is on the autism spectrum. None of us has let our disability prevent us from accomplishing any of our goals or being a leader in the sports information profession.
“I always wanted to work in sports since I was a kid,” O’Hagan said. “I interned under Gil Burgmaster at Utica College for a semester and fell in love with the job and it became my goal to become a sports information director.”
A.J. O’Hagan has served as the SID at Yeshiva since December 2015. He is active with autism awareness programs including speaking to young children in their classrooms.
As a professional with a disability, I can request for reasonable accommodations to allow me to perform my job to the best of my abilities. Advancements in technology have enabled many people to highlight their skills and limit the impact of a disability. For example, I wear hearing aids that have Bluetooth capabilities that allow me to hear conversations on my phone or in a group setting with a similar clarity to able-bodied individuals. Another example can be found if you walk into a volleyball match or basketball game, you will see me wearing a headset. We use headsets for calling stats to help me hear my caller better in a loud environment. All of these have aided in my ability to perform and excel as a sports information director.
O’Hagan stated that he has made it a point of emphasis to improve his communication skills and other aspects of the job so that he can be treated like everyone else.
For Birnbaum one of the biggest obstacles has been gaining accessibility to press boxes and other working areas. There are many athletic venues that do not have wheelchair accessibility, which has forced Birnbaum to adapt by either being carried to the press box or using an evacuation chair. He has adapted by doing stats from other locations such as the dugout or from watching the live stream. During this past season at UW-Superior, Birnbaum statted hockey games from the scorer’s table on the other side of the ice with headset communication to the spotters in the press box.
According to Birnbaum, a lift to the press box was approved to be installed, however, it’s a year later and it hasn’t been done. “It’s been very frustrating to be honest,” said Birnbaum, who is trying to cover his sports just like any of his colleagues. He asks that venues take mobility issues into account even if not required to have an elevator. “It could be a benefit to everyone,” Birnbaum said.
Tyler Birnbaum is a sports information and graphic design specialist currently at UW-Superior.
One of the most common messages expressed by all three of us is that people should never let their disability prevent them from trying new things. “You have to get out of your comfort zone and overcome your limitations to allow you to get better at your job,” said O’Hagan.
When I got to Cumberlands I was hesitant to do broadcasting because of how I would sound on air. After giving it a try I realized that I can do it — with equal skill to others in my department. I am now a regular commentator on the UCSN and even called the final out of 2019 baseball opening round.
It’s also important that employees advocate for themselves.
“The athletics communications field, like most professions, wasn’t built with people with disabilities in mind. If you need something in order to do your job, let someone know,” said Birnbaum.
My best advice to individuals with disabilities is that if you are trying to break into the field, you need to be confident in your abilities and you need to be persistent. You need to look for opportunities to demonstrate your skills even if it may not be the “ideal” job. You might not be selected by some individuals who question your abilities, but you need to apply for every opportunity and you’ll find that your persistence will pay off. While you’re in the job search process, continue to expand your skills set and diversify your portfolio to highlight your abilities because this will open more doors.
For employers, the Americans with Disabilities Act provides guidelines for the type of questions that can be asked during the interview process. I would encourage each supervisor to take a close look at each applicant and their ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The focus should always be on an individual’s ability and not their disability. You need to look past your perceptions of what you think a person may not be able to do because of their disability, and focus on what an individual can do and contribute to your program. It might turn out to be one of the best hires you have ever made!
“Be patient and give the person a chance, regardless of their perceived limitations. Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they can’t do the job and, most importantly, treat them with the same respect as you do others,” O’Hagan added.
“Give us a chance. Just because I get around in a different way doesn’t mean I can’t be great at my job,” said Birnbaum.
The University of the Cumberlands Student Government Association honored Tommy Chasanoff with the Honored Staff Member of the Year for 2019-20, presented to a staff member on campus for commitment to the school and its students.
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