Hey All, SDS is currently in a transition period regarding our virtual social networks. Attached, and copy and pasted below is a letter from Nicole Schroeder, our SDS Communication/Social Media board member. We just wanted to share with you how to migrate over to our new virtual spaces. This Listserv will be going out of commission on June 15th, 2024. Here is Nicole's Letter! *Society for Disability Studies - Introduction to Discord Email* Hello Everyone, My name is Nicole Schroeder and I’m a recently elected member of the Board of Directors. Over the past few months, the Board has been discussing how we might promote community connections and foster togetherness. I pitched the idea of setting up a Discord server for the SDS, where members can converse casually, organize more effectively, and find one another more easily. *Why Discord (as opposed to Facebook, Slack, or other platforms)? * Personally, I prefer Discord because it: 1. Has numerous accessibility features <https://discord.com/accessibility> including keyboard navigation, various font/typography options, and text-to-speech integration. 2. Saves all messages in perpetuity, which means that we can create a searchable archive together. No matter when someone joins the SDS, they will be able to access all past materials that have been posted to the Discord. 3. Can be accessed by mobile phone, desktop, or internet browser. *What is the difference between our Google listserv and the Discord server? * The SDS currently maintains two listservs. The original listserv will be phased on out (06/15/2024). If you have not already migrated over to our Google Group listserv, please do so at this time. You can find our Google Group at: https://groups.google.com/g/society-for-disability-studies/ The Google Group is a great space for putting out announcements to the whole community. The listserv works best when you are posting one-way information. Please use it to post announcements. You might consider using it to: ● Announce relevant fellowships or grants ● Promote future conferences ● Post job alerts ● Share event registration information Unlike the Google listserv, the Discord server is designed for sustained, ongoing conversations. The Discord server will support group conversations (like a reading group) and one-on-one conversations. While the Google Group is excellent for sending singular announcements to the SDS community, the Discord server is designed for extended conversations. We hope you can use the two congruently to connect with one another! *If you are familiar with Discord and already have an account: * If you are already a Discord user and you know how everything works, you can access our server using this Discord Invite Link: https://discord.gg/R9BAbEvPj5 *If you would like a run down of the server:* If you haven’t used Discord before, please follow these instructions to register for an account. You might also consider following along with the attached videos, which individually show you how to sign up for a Discord account, how to navigate our Discord server, and how to optimize your user settings. 1. Copy and paste the Discord Invite link into your browser: https://discord.gg/R9BAbEvPj5 2. Type out whatever display name you’d like to have 3. Agree to the terms and conditions 4. Hit “Continue” 5. Click “Accept Invite” 6. On the top banner, in green, you’ll see a box that says “Claim Account” 7. Add and email and password 8. Check your email and verify your account Here are some helpful videos to get registered for your Discord account: Registering for a Discord Account <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1skM_PZMlzHhC-_Jj_oAfJUs7fj-mXQ0O/view?usp=sharing> (External Link) Discord Server Walkthrough <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtMzWpgglE_Dgw3I4zh6pz0PeXmPZYHh/view?usp=sharing> (External Link) Your Discord Account Settings <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PbSbu1ByJ0h0OqZfQrDq5haHD5lrmhki/view?usp=sharing> (External Link) If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at nicole@disstudies.org. I look forward to being in community with you all in this new virtual space! Best Wishes, Nicole Administrative Coordinator admin@disstudies.org [Website <https://disstudies.org/>] [Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/SocietyforDisabilityStudies/>]