The symposium takes its name from the title of Jay Dolmage’s forthcoming book, Academic Ableism. “For too long,” Dolmage argues, “disability has been constructed as the antithesis of higher education, often positioned as a distraction, a drain, a problem to be solved. The ethic of higher education encourages students and teachers alike to accentuate ability, valorize perfection, and stigmatize anything that hints at intellectual, mental, or physical weakness, even as we gesture toward the value of diversity and innovation.”
Our focus will be on moving beyond the gesture. One of UC Berkeley’s vital social contributions was its early support of the creation of a “center for independent living” for–and, vitally, controlled by—disabled people. Through the decades, Berkeley has played a key role in bringing “higher education” and “disability” together. Today, though, a series of institutional decisions and systemic problems threatens parts of that legacy, even as ongoing activism, advocacy and disability studies continue it. With four scholars who are leading the way, we will talk together about finding new and lasting alternatives to the ableist academy.
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE:
Date: Saturday, September 30, 2017.
Introduction (10:00am-10:15am)
Panel 1 (10:15am-12pm):
Margaret Price (Ohio State University), “Working in Intolerable (Space)Times: Mixed Methods Research on Academic Ableism”
Wanda Blanchett (Rutgers University), “Moving Beyond the Gesture of Inclusion: What It Will Take to Enhance & Embrace Diversity on Our University Campuses”
Panel 2 (1:30-3:15pm):
Stephanie Kerschbaum (University of Delaware), "Stories of Academic Ableism: Teaching While Disabled"
Jay Dolmage (University of Waterloo), “Ableist Apologies and Affects”
Closing discussion (3:15-4:00pm)
Reception (4:00-5:00pm)
***Attendants are asked to refrain from using scented products; a scent-free seating area will be reserved. This event is free, open to the public, and in a wheelchair accessible venue. ASL interpretation and closed captioning will be provided. Please contact Susan Schweik sschweik@berkeley.edu with any questions or accessibility requests.***
Presented by the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society and co-sponsored by: Department of Ethnic Studies, Graduate School of Education, Department of Sociology, Department of Rhetoric, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, Division of Equity and Inclusion, Robert and Colleen Haas Chair in Disability Studies, College of Environmental Design.
The organizers deeply regret that this event coincides with Yom Kippur. If you can’t attend as a result, please contact us to learn more about the event proceedings.
For more info, please visit this page.
