GISD 623 Disability Culture and Identity

The establishment of a culture begins with the coalescing of individuals who, thus, create a community. Over time, individuals with disabilities have transitioned from being identified as objects, to incomplete persons, to localized social circles, to national/international communities. Individuals with disabilities have claimed, and defined, a social identity based on personal life experiences, community-wide advocacy, systems change, policy development, and social perceptions/understanding. This course will draw on a wide range of disciplines to identify both the disempowering identities conferred on people with disabilities and the empowering identities emerging from Disability Studies theorists and activists. There will be a particular focus on disability culture as expressed through the arts and its significance in the expression of identity.

3 Credit(s)