Disability Studies and Action Collaborative

Disability Culture, Scholarship, and Community

Announcements

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New ICDS Fellows Program launching!

The WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies is excited to announce the launch of a new Fellows Program to support faculty, staff, and community members with one-year fellowships to develop programs and carry out projects related to disability scholarship and advocacy.

A cohort of at least five Fellows will meet with peer Fellows and Program Mentors throughout the calendar year and learn from each other’s skills and interests. The fellowship award is $3,000 for the one-year duration of the program.

The application deadline for the 2023-4 Fellows cohort is 11:59 pm on Monday, January 02, 2023.

Learn more about the ICDS Fellows Program Here

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‘Documenting Grace’ dance film festival kick-off and films sponsored by ICDS

Invitation to Dance on November 13th

Join us for a kick-off event for Kuntz & Co’s new film festival series, “Documenting Grace”. On Sunday, November 13th, ICDS will be sponsoring their screening of Invitation to Dance, a documentary film by Simi Linton, and a 20-min pre-screening discussion. Proceeds from the screening will go toward Dance for All Bodies.

The film will be shown with open captions and audio description to provide access for low vision/blind audience members. Questions or for disability accommodations contact Pam at 360-510-4711 or kuntzpam@gmail.com

Tickets to “Invitation to Dance” – Nov 13, 6:00 pm

More events to come!

Stay tuned for information on our next ICDS event accompanying Pam’s “Documenting Grace” series, co-sponsored with Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation. Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

Tickets to “Capturing Grace” – April 16, 4:00 pm

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2022 UnConference student staff jobs posted

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies (ICDS) is now accepting applications for paid student staffing positions to support the 2022 Disability Studies and Action Collaborative UnConference, happening Saturday & Sunday, October 22 & 23 at the Western Washington University Bellingham campus.

Please check out the job descriptions linked below, and share widely!

These positions are available for current WWU undergraduate students. Application deadline for all UnConference staffing positions is Friday, September 30, 2022. Learn more about student employment opportunities with the ICDS here or contact icds.unconference@wwu2.onmicrosoft.com with questions.

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Fall UnConference happening Oct 22-23!

On October 22nd and 23rd, 2022, we hosted the second-annual Disability Studies and Action Collaborative UnConference. This was a two-day event hosted at Western Washington University, and it was offered in a hybrid modality (bot face-to-face and remote digital participation). Please visit our DSAC UnConference webpage to access the full event description and application form.

About the UnConference

Everyone who participates in the event will take part in two days of programming. On the first day, people will be put into working groups to discuss important issues related to disability, access, and action. This day will include workshops and discussions in small and large groups. On the second day, participants will give long or short presentations and have dialogs about scholarly, professional, and personal projects and experiences. Coaching will be available for those who want some extra support in preparing and giving their presentations. 

All are welcome to apply for the UnConference, including college students, faculty, and staff; members of the nonprofit, private, and public sectors; educators; artists; and activists. We are particularly interested in welcoming participants who are disabled or members of other marginalized populations, including BIPOC, queer, or gender nonconforming people. The UnConference has a participation fee on a sliding scale from $0 to $250. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at icds.unconference@wwu2.onmicrosoft.com. We would also like to encourage you to send us the names of any organizations or individuals we should send this invitation to. 

Applications were due August 12, 2022.

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Thank you to everyone who participated in WWU GiveDay!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Institute for Critical Disability Studies’ very first WWU Give Day!  Stay tuned as we will be hosting our next UnConference in the Fall and also launching a new ICDS Fellows Program.

If you missed it, you can still give at https://alumniq.wwu.edu/giving/to/GiveDay2022 by selecting “Other” category and searching for Institute for Critical Disability Studies.

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Support Critical Disability Studies this WWU Give Day

WWU Give Day is coming up!  This is the new Institute for Critical Disability Studies’ (ICDS’) very first public fundraising opportunity as of our Spring 2022 launch and official institute status!  We could not have made it this far without your collective contributions in organization and planning, feedback, and encouragement: THANK YOU!
 
Are you imagining all the awesome things the Institute could be doing in the coming years, such as putting on our next UnConference, funding new DISA course development, hiring staff, scheduling workshops, bringing in speakers, and funding student internships and scholarships?
 
Help ICDS grow our resources to confidently support students, faculty, and staff.  Encourage your connections to give, and give as you are able: even the smallest donations will make a difference!
 
  • How you can help ICDS fundraise for Give Day:
    • Become a Give Day Ambassador – sign up now to help recruit donors and share on social media in advance of Give Day with the tags #WWUGiveDay and #WWUICDS.
    • Spread the word by sharing our Give Day page with friends, family, and potential donors, and let them know why Critical Disability Studies, accessibility, and the DSAC community matter to you!
    • Give early!  Early Give Day is Wednesday May 18th for only 24 hours: Get a head start on giving and build momentum for the Institute.
    • Give on Give Day!  Give Day is Thursday May 26th.
 
Help give this little ICDS seedling a strong start this spring!
A tiny green seedling with two green leaflets sprouts from soil. The seedling represents the new Institute which has just officially sprouted this Spring.

Image of a green seedling sprouting from the soil
“Seedling” by _sjg_ is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

 

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Upcoming Event: Faculty Roundtable on May 12, 2022

On May 12th at 3:30pm, we’ll be hosting a Roundtable on Teaching Disability in the Disciplines. This fully online event will bring faculty from across the university together to talk about how disability-related content fits into their teaching. The aim is to show how disability studies can find a home in a range of fields, which will provide models for other faculty interested in teaching about disability. 

Learn more and register to attend by clicking the link below: 

Faculty Roundtable: Teaching Disability in the Disciplines

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Interim co-directors announced for Spring & Summer 2022

Winter Quarter 2022

Andrew Lucchesi and GIM (G McGrew) will be working as the interim co-directors of the Institute for Spring and Summer 2022.  GIM and Andrew will be helping establish the institute’s first priorities, including hosting events, establishing a new scholarship program, and creating connections between faculty and students around disability studies work.

You are invited to reach out to them:

  • Andrew Lucchesi (he/him)
    • lucchea@wwu.edu
  • GIM (he/they)
    • mcgrewg2@wwu.edu

Permanent co-directors will begin their roles in Fall of 2022.