Addressing inclement weather challenges
for individuals with disabilities

Cornell offers help to faculty and staff with short- or long-term mobility impairments who may have difficulty getting to or around their work site because of inclement weather. Notes Alan Mittman, director of the Office of Workforce Policy and Labor Relations, "We encourage these individuals to fill out a Voluntary Inclement Weather Questionnaire so that we can determine if the program can meet their needs. An individual's program may include notifying relevant building or facilities personnel to remove ice or snow, providing a cell phone for urgent communication while the staff member is in transit or other measures to facilitate access."

The questionnaire, along with more information for individuals with disabilities and links to Web sites and e-lists with closing and cancellation information, is posted at http://www.cornell.edu/disability/weather.cfm. For a printed copy of the questionnaire, contact the Office of Workforce Policy and Labor Relations at 607-254-7232 or equalopportunity@cornell.edu.

Boots? Check. Warm coat? Check. Hat? Check.

To that list of winter essentials add a plan to cope with Ithaca's sometimes severe weather.

Cornell officials urge all staff and managers to meet now to review their unit's inclement weather staffing plan, discuss specific concerns and review where to get information about Cornell closings. They should also develop a personal emergency plan for themselves and their families. For help, see http://www.epr.cornell.edu/personal_plan/.

"Staff should relate concerns about travel conditions and/or family issues so that advance planning can be implemented," said Mary George Opperman, vice president for human resources.

The top priority during weather emergencies? "Safety," said Kyu Whang, vice president for facilities services. "If you live outside Tompkins County, or if conditions in your area are dangerous despite roads being open, use your best judgment whether you should travel to campus. Safety comes first," he said.

Supervisors should be open and flexible in discussing employees' individual circumstances, Opperman said. "Planning for inclement weather and other emergencies should be an ongoing, mutually respectful process."

Cornell will close whenever Tompkins County roads are closed, in accordance with the university's Inclement Weather Policy 8.2. If Cornell officially closes, employees receive paid days off. Employees will not be penalized if they choose not to travel during dangerous weather when road advisories have been issued. In these cases, employees are released from the advance notice requirement to use vacation or personal accrued time. Employees may also make advance arrangements with their supervisors to work from home, Opperman said. "Again, open communication and advance planning are vitally important."

Whang will decide whether to fully or partially close Cornell or delay its opening based on weather forecasts, timing and road closures in Tompkins County and on decisions made by transit providers and other educational institutions.

The administration will communicate Whang's decisions via local news media, the Web sites http://www.cornell.edu/about/status/ and http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/SpecialConditions/, e-mails, e-mail mailing lists and the Inclement Weather Phone 607-255-3377.

"Working together, we will be able to handle what the winter months bring us," Whang said.