Disability Studies panel, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, 12:30-2:00 pm; Perseverance and Adaptation: Disability Studies Writing and the Lived Experiences of Disabled Academics
Title: Perseverance and Adaptation: Disability Studies Writing and the Lived Experiences of Disabled Academics
Abstract: This joint presentation will share reflections on academic writing by three disabled women sociologists after attending a five day Writing Retreat. The panelists will discuss barriers to and strategies for productive academic writing for Disability Studies audiences, while examining the unique and adaptive ways disabled academics can approach their writing. In this presentation the panelists will offer challenges to historical processes of academic writing and address the systemic ableism embedded in many of the ‘best practices’ espoused in academic spheres. More broadly, the panel will assess the benefits of Writing Accountability Groups, Writing Retreats, adaptive environments and other writing-dedicated spaces that help enable disabled academics to persevere in their careers.
Panelists:
Heather D. Evans, Ph.D
Lecturer, Department of Sociology; Disability Studies Program; and Law, Societies & Justice Department
Bio: My research examines the paradox of ‘invisible disability,’ focusing on identity, stigma management, and the everyday experiences of people who have acquired non-apparent impairment as adults. I am also committed to community based research and do consulting work for local organizations, primarily focusing on disparities within the criminal justice system.
Lesley Ellis
Ph.D. Candidate
Centre for Disability Research, School of Sociology & Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds UK
UW D Center Advisor: lesellis@uw.edu
Bio: My research is framed within a number of separate but interrelated areas of Disability Studies, which can be broadly outlined as technology, identity, normality and disability theory. My current PhD research project is motivated by a desire to contribute to theoretical suppositions on the nature of disability as a form of structural oppression by utilizing the unique experiences of cis identified women with dwarfism who use mobility aids. This research uncovers the specialized ways ‘dwarf’ bodies have been created, isolated and denigrated in structural spheres of power, leaving people with dwarfism on the margins of social and cultural inclusion. Previous publications have examined unauthorized picture taking of people with dwarfism in public spaces.
Katie Warden
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon
Bio: My dissertation examines how Latinx and White parents of disabled kids learn about and understand the social model of disability through special education legal advocacy. As a sociologist-lawyer, I seek to identify how disabled people and their families experience legal proceedings in order to improve our anti-discrimination protections. Outside of the academy, I work part-time as a special education legal clerk and as an assistant with Padres en Acción, a Spanish-language parent advocacy group based in Oregon.
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION:
CART captioning and ASL interpretation have been requested for this event. The D Center (MGH 024) is mobility aid accessible and is a scent-free space.
We gratefully acknowledge the partnership of the D Center in providing space and staffing for these events.
Contact info: Joanne Woiak, jwoiak@uw.edu