Disability Studies Seminar

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

What is disability? Who counts as disabled? How do we – or should we or can we – think about disability and bodymind differences and divergences in society? Whose bodies or brains are considered healthy, sane, or normal, and whose are considered disordered, defective, or abnormal? The course will explore notions of disability through critical disability theory, crip culture and arts, and disabled community building and organizing, including examining critiques of disability representation and advocacy as articulated by neurodiversity, mad pride, psychiatric survivorship, independent living, deaf culture, disability rights, disability justice, and self-advocacy movements. This course serves as a core course for the Disability Studies minor and an upper level elective in English. Students will also read the work of visiting speakers in the Disability Studies spring lecture series and engage with the speakers in a seminar format. Students will also design their own independent research projects in disability studies throughout the term.