Jennifer Blatz, a vice presidential candidate for the HUCTW, attended the rally. She said Thomas’ problem is not unique.
“I’m working with someone at the Education School right now with a similar problem,” she said. “It just seems to be that the disability offices at Harvard discourage the possibility to get disabilities even acknowledged.”
“When I was working in Widener, I had the same exact problem,” Thomas said. She and Carens first met several years ago when he represented her when she worked in the library. Thomas said that now, after working under one supervisor who was sympathetic to her needs, management is once again dismissive of her disability.
“Harvard actually has good benefits and it’s a good place to work,” she said. “The problem is, the University doesn’t train its management very well.”