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CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES MINOR

Program Preview

December 2^nd, 2022

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WHAT IS CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES?

Disability is part of the human experience
Different communities hold different values about disability
Disabled people share communities and history
The world can be designed to promote access and justice

Let’s start with a definition. When we say Critical Disability Studies, we are referring to the academic topic that brings together a wide range of of fields, including the humanities, social scienced, performing arts, science, and design. All of these fields explore disability as an aspect of the human experience. We go beyond understanding disability as a medical issue; instead we think about the ways society often marginalizes disabled people. Societies hold different views and stereotypes about disability, some that are good and some that are bad. We learn that disability can be a powerful source of pride and identity, with a long history. We also learn that we can help make the world more just and equitable for disabled people, not only by changing peoples’ atitudes, but also by building objects and buildings to allow for full participation regardless of ability.

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WHY DO WE NEED A MINOR?

Building a disability-affirming culture at Western
Adding a special emphasis to a range of majors

Humanities
Social Sciences
Design
Education
Laboratory Sciences

Building a more just and equitable world

There are many reasons why Western needs a degree program in Critical Disability Studies. We have heard for many students who want courses in disability topics because they themselves are disabled or an ally of someone who is. They want a place to learn about disability culture and to understand the world through a disability lens. This awareness is essential for building a disability-affirming culture at Western. The minor will have a great deal to offer students from a range of majors, including, for instance, those who are studying art or the humanities, those going into education, or those invested in accessible design. Furthermore, the Critical Disability Studies minor will attract more students and faculty who wish to specialize in this area. This is an important step to making our disability culture more robust and meaningful.

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MINOR AT A GLANCE

Approximately 24-30 credits
Three required classes

DISA 301 – Fundamentals of Critical Disability Studies (5 credits)
DISA 302 – Topics in Critical Disability Studies (5 credits)
DISA 401 – Capstone in Critical Disability Studies (5 credits)

Three additional electives

Ranging from 3-5 credits each

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DISA 301 - FUNDAMENTALS OF CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES

Study the key concepts of Critical Disability Studies
Learn about the history of disability communities
Practice universal design principles

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DISA 302 - TOPICS IN CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES

Apply fundamental principles to various sub-topics:

Film studies
Dance and performing arts
Comic books
Greek mythology
Sexuality
Recreations
Politics

Can be repeated as elective

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THREE ELECTIVES (UP TO 15 CREDITS)

Communication, Identity, and Difference (Comm 260)
Accessible Computing (CSEC 497T/597T)
Disability and Access in the Sciences (CSEC 397)
Cultural Disability Studies (ENGL 397K)
Disability in Literature (ENGL 497)
Disability, Diversity, and the Mass Media (EXCE 205)

Elementary American Sign Language sequence (EXCE 101, 102, and 103)
Disability, Individuals, and Systems (HSP 443)
Religion and Disability (REL 330)

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ALTERNATIVE ELECTIVES

Repeat DISA 302 with a different instructor
Take an independent study
Do an internship (coming soon)
Take another class not on our list (with approval)

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DISA 401: CAPSTONE IN CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES

Small cohort of Critical Disability Studies minors
Reflect on previous course work and personal experiences
Design a research study on a particular topic
Create a multimedia project based on your research

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GOALS FOR MINOR GOING FORWARD

Minor begins in fall 2023
New courses will be added over the coming years:

Disability and Access in the Sciences
Disability in Fine and Performing Arts
Disability in Law and Politics
Internship in Critical Disability Studies

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WHAT TO DO NOW?

Reach out to the Institute for Critical Disability Studies co-directors to discuss the minor at icds@wwu.edu
Take courses from our electives list or other courses on disability-related topics

Make sure to check with the co-directors to find out if outside courses count for credit in the minor
All valid courses will recognize these courses once you declare your minor

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GET INVOLVED

Join the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative (open to everyone)

If you want to help developing the minor, join the curriculum committee

Join our mailing list (see below)

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GIVE US FEEDBACK

What excites you about the minor?
What questions do you have?
What problems do you notice?

We will take your feedback and incorporate it into our final proposal for the minor or build it into our program development going forward.