People at ILR

LaWanda Cook
people / faculty

LaWanda Cook

Senior Extension Associate
Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability

Overview

LaWanda Cook joined the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability in July, 2010. She has extensive experience in vocational counseling, personnel management and program development within non-profit organizations. She holds a BS in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Connecticut and a MS in Human Resource Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. Dr. Cook earned a PhD from the College of Applied Health Sciences/Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois. Her scholarship explores the well-being and the inclusion of multiply marginalized people with disabilities in work and leisure settings.

Publications

Journal Articles

  • LaWanda Cook, John T Foley, Luz M Semeah. 2016. An Exploration of Inclusive Worksite Wellness: Considering Employees with Disabilities, Disability and Health Journal . 9(1):100-107. (DOI:10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.08.011)
  • LaWanda Cook, Kimberly Shinew, . 2014. Leisure, Work, and Disability Coping, Leisure Sciences . 36(5):420-438. (DOI:10.1080/01490400.2014.912169)
  • LaWanda Cook. 2012. “I’m not the typical handicapped person”: The Significance of Leisure for Employed People with Disabilities, Social Advocacy and Systems Change Journal . 3(1):22-37.
  • Hannah H Rudstam, Wendy Strobel, LaWanda Cook. 2012. Beyond Yellow Ribbons: Are Employers Prepared to Hire, Accommodate and Retain Returning Veterans with Disabilities., Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 36(2):87-95.
  • Idethia Shevon Harvey, LaWanda Cook. 2010. Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Self-management Practices among Older African American and Non-Hispanic White Women with Chronic Conditions, Chronic Illness . 6(2):111-124.

Book Chapters

  • Alecia Santuzzi, LaWanda Cook. 2020. Stereotypes about People with Disabilities. in "Stereotypes: The Incidence and Impacts of Bias". . Santa Barbara/CA/USA: Praeger Publishing, 2020. Joel T Nadler & Elora Voyles.
  • Wendy Strobel, LaWanda Cook. 2020. Technology, employment, and disability: Creating a technology accessible vocational environment: Legal and organizational considerations.. in Assistive technology and environmental interventions in Healthcare.. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 2020. Lynn Gitlow & Kathleen Flecky. (105-115)
  • Sarah von Schrader, LaWanda Cook, Wendy Strobel. 2019. Creating an Accommodating Workplace: Encouraging Disability Disclosure and Managing Reasonable Accommodation Requests. in Employment and Disability: Issues, Innovations, and Opportunities. Champaign, IL: Labor and Employment Relations Association Series, 2019. Susanne Bruyere. (99-128)(Accepted)
  • LaWanda Cook, Sarah von Schrader, Val Malzer, Mimno Jennifer. 2019. Unwelcoming Workplaces: Bullying and Harassment Of Employees With Disabilities. in Employment and Disability: Issues, Innovations, and Opportunities. Champaign, IL: Lanbor and Employment Relations Association Serie, 2019. Susanne Bruyere. (Accepted)
  • LaWanda Cook. 2018. Accommodating Persons with Physical Disability in the Lab . in Accessibility in the Laboratory. Washington, DC: Oxford Press, 2018. Ellen Sweet, Wendy Strobel Gower, and Carl E. Heltzel.

Professional Activities

  • Can Remote Work Solve the Employment and Disability Crisis: Implications for Employers & Workers with Disabilities. Presented to The Great Plains ADA Center and the ADA National Network . Virtual. 2023.
  • Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northwest ADA Center. Ithaca. 2021.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northwest ADA Center. Ithaca. 2021.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northwest ADA Center. Ithaca. 2021.
  • Disabiilty Difference. Presented to Cornell Diversity Alumni Programs . Ithaca. 2021.
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Retirement Considerations of Older Healthcare Workers . Presented to Work Family Researchers Network. 2020.
  • Disability & Justice Involvement: Intersectional Considerations . Ithaca. 2020.
  • Disability Rights are Human Rights. Presented to ILR School. Ithaca. 2020.
  • Same Storm, Different Boat: Intersectional Considerations. Presented to Cornell Healthy Futures. Ithaca, NY. 2020.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. 2020.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. 2020.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. 2020.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. 2020.
  • Title I of the ADA and Disability Disclosure. Presented to NYS Chapter of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. 2020.
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Keeping Older Healthcare Workers Engaged. Presented to George Mason University. 2020.
  • Uniquely YOU, ADA Hot Topics and Ongoing Support. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca . 2020.
  • Responding to Training Requests. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca. 2020.
  • Getting Familiar with the TLN Curriculum and Tools for Confirming Training Needs. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca. 2020.
  • Introduction to the ADA Trainer Leadership Network. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca. 2020.
  • Disability Identity, Intersectionality, and New Directions in Disability Activism. 2019.
  • Disability Rights are Human Rights. ILR School. 2019.
  • Disability Rights are Human Rights. Cornell Campus - Ithaca. 2019.
  • Unwelcoming Workplaces: Bullying and Harassment Of Employees With Disabilities. Presented to ILR. 2019.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2019.
  • Accessible Design: Legal, Human, & Practical Considerations . Cornell Campus - Ithaca. 2019.
  • Accessible Design: Legal, Human, & Practical Considerations. Plant Sciences Building. 2019.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2019.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Network Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2019.
  • ADA Trainer Leadership Online Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2019.
  • The ADA and Public Entities. Ithaca. 2019.
  • Work-life Balance and Disability: Expanding Workplace Inclusion. Presented to CUWFA. Vancouver, BC. 2019.
  • Work-life Balance and Disability: Expanding Workplace Inclusion. Presented to College University Work Family Association. Vancouver, Canada. 2019.
  • Disability Rights are Human Rights. IlR School. 2019.
  • Bullying Disability in the Workplace. Presented to WFRN. Washington, DC. 2018.
  • Know Your Rights! Older People and the ADA. San Francisco, California. 2018.
  • Bullies, Bosses, and Balance. Presented to University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI. 2017.
  • Increasing Community-Based Fitness Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities. Presented to University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI. 2017.
  • Balancing Work, Life, and Disability: "It's a square peg, round hole, kind of thing.". Presented to Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2017.
  • Work-Life Balance and Disability. Presented to Hotel School, Alumni Affairs. Cornell University . 2016.
  • A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to NARRTC. Alexandria, VA. 2016.
  • Workplace Bullying, Harassment, and Disability. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. webinar. 2016.
  • Air Travel for Individuals with Disabilities: Intersection of the ACAA and the ADA. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. webinar. 2015.
  • Impact/Outcome Stories: Using the ADA TN Curriculum to Create Change. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2015.
  • A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to American Psychological Association. Atlanta, GA. 2015.
  • A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to NARRTC. Alexandria, VA. 2015.
  • Creating Inclusive Recreation Spaces: Lessons Learned from the Hudson Estuary Accessibility Project. Presented to New York State Recreation and Park Society. Saratoga Springs, NY. 2015.
  • Access for Everyone: How do we expand waterway access for recreation?. Presented to NYS Hudson River Estuary Program. Poughkeepsie, NY. 2015.
  • Interacting with Colleagues with Non-Obvious Disabilities. Presented to Tioga County. Owego, NY. 2015.
  • Getting the Word Out: Marketing your Training Services. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Online. 2014.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act: What it is and What it Means for the Hospitality Industry. Presented to Cornell Hotel School. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
  • Interacting Effectively with Colleagues and Students with Disabilities: Legal, Human and Practical Considerations. Presented to UUP at SUNY-Oswego. Oswego, NY. 2013.
  • Interacting Effectively with Colleagues and Students with Disabilities: Legal, Human and Practical Considerations. Presented to UUP at SUNY-Oswego. Oswego, NY. 2013.
  • Business Continuity Awareness and Planning for Human Service Organizations. Presented to FLIC and Tompkins County EMS. Ithaca. 2013.
  • Managing Training Requests: Record Keeping, Contracts, References and Referrals. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
  • ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Albany, NY. 2013.
  • Worksite Wellness, Leisure, and Disability. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
  • It's about Talent and Relationships: Creating Opportunities for Job Seekers with Disabilities. Presented to Recruitment and Employment Center, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
  • Using the Tools in YOUR Online Community. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Disclosure. Presented to Mental Health Association of New Jersey. Union, NJ. 2013.
  • Helping Individuals with Disabilities to Find and Maintain Employment. Presented to The Union County Community Work Council. Springfield, NJ. 2013.
  • Attracting & Retaining Minority Employees with Disabilities. Presented to Central and Western NY Business Leadership Network. 2013.
  • ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Trenton, NJ. 2013.
  • Interacting Effectively with Clients and Colleagues with Disabilities:. Presented to Gannett Health Services. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
  • ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Ithaca, NY . 2013.
  • Impact Stories: Update on your Efforts and the Impact on your Local Community. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
  • Increasing Well-Being through Empathic Design . Presented to Center on Disabilities at CSU Northridge. California State University, Northridge. 2013.
  • Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI, St. Thomas, USVI & Puerto Rico. 2013.
  • Perceptions of Access to Worksite Wellness Resources to Employees with Disabilities. 2012.
  • Inclusive Emergency Management Services: Remembering People with Disabilities. Presented to Finger Lakes Independence Center. Ithaca, NY. 2012.
  • The Development of the Access to Worksite Wellness Survey for Employees with Disabilities (AWWSED). Presented to North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. Birmingham, AL. 2012.
  • Getting Hired & Moving Ahead with a Disability. Presented to ACCES-VR. 2012.
  • Developing capacity in a US disability context: A train-the-trainer program. Cape Town, South Africa. 2012.
  • Workforce Developments that Impact People with Disabilities and Disability . Presented to APSE. Arlington, VA. 2012.
  • Workforce Developments that Impact People with Disabilities. Presented to NYS APSE. Lake Placid, NY. 2012.
  • "Serving Jobseekers with Disabilities in Challenging Times". Presented to ACCES-VR. 2011.
  • We Work, too: Leisure, Disability & Work-Life Balance. Presented to National Recreation and Parks Association. Atlanta, GA. 2011.
  • Trend Watch: Making Sense of Workforce and Workplace Trends that Impact People with Disabilities. Presented to Association of Persons in Supported Employment. Seattle, WA. 2011.
  • ADA Trainer Network Program. Presented to DBTAC Regional Network. Albuquerque, NM. 2010.
  • Disability IS Diversity: Tapping into the Talent of New Jerseyans with Disabilities. Presented to NJ Workforce Investment Board. Cumberland, NJ. 2010.
  • Disability IS Diversity: Tapping into the Talent of New Jerseyans with Disabilities. Presented to NJ Workforce Investment Board. Salem, NJ. 2010.
  • Disability IS Diversity: Including America's Largest Diversity Population in ConEdison's Workplace Strategy. Presented to ConEdison. NYC. 2010.
  • Next Steps: Intersections & Crossroads: New York State Human Rights Law and the ADA. Presented to DBTAC/NIDRR. Webinar. 2010.
  • The news is not all bad:  Workforce trends disability service professionals need to know about. Presented to APSE National Organization. Atlanta, GA. 2010.
  • Introduction to the ADA Trainer Leadership Network. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca. 2010.

Honors and Awards

  • Thomas P. Golden Employee Recognition Award, ILR School. 2022
  • Engaged Learning Teaching Award, ILR School. 2021