Disability Studies and Action Collaborative

Disability Culture, Scholarship, and Community

Category: Events

Fall UnConference happening Oct 21-22!

On October 21nd and 22rd, 2023, we are hosting our third annual Disability Studies and Action Collaborative UnConference! Similar to last year, this will be a two-day event hosted at Western Washington University, and it will be offered in a hybrid modality (both face-to-face and virtual participation options). 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 and icds@wwu.edu. We would also like to encourage you to send us the names of any organizations or individuals we should send this invitation to. 

Applications are due August 04, 2023. Learn more and apply to join the 2023 UnConference here.

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative UnConference 2023 promotional flyer. Event is Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22, 2023. It is a hybrid and in person event at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. The application deadline is Friday, August 4, 2023. Join us for Activism and advocacy, community building, critical disability studies scholarship, access and equity, arts, and culture. The QR code links to https://wp.wwu.edu/disabilitycollaborative/events/unconference/

Student Advisory Council Listening Session

The Institute for Critical Disability Studies (ICDS) invites you to join us for a Listening Session on Monday, February 6 at 4:00 at CV 103 or through this Zoom link to inaugurate the Student Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC is a student-run organization composed of undergraduate and graduate students that dedicates itself to ensure that the disabled student voice is heard within the ICDS as it develops as an institute. The main responsibilities of the SAC is to represent the needs and priorities of the disabled student community through recommendations for the ICDS on several topics.

We will be brainstorming the priorities of the community and making those future council meeting topics. Some projects that the ICDS is working on that the SAC can discuss and give recommendations on include: curriculum development, student climate, and community building. Any questions about SAC will be answered during this session.

The ICDS wants to ensure that student concerns and priorities are not being left behind, and that there is a safe place for students to voice their concerns and be heard. We encourage you and your friends to come participate in our council.

A letter from the ICDS co-directors

December 30, 2022

To the Disability Studies & Action Collaborative Community:

As 2022 draws to a close, we wanted to first take a moment to thank you for your part in our community: whether as student, alumni, UnConference participant, affiliated faculty, WWU staff, professional or corporate affiliate, community member near and far, and including those of us who have needed to step away from Western and/or ICDS work for various reasons.  You have our deep appreciation and hope for a safe, warm, and restorative holiday season.

The remainder of this message is intended to summarize things to remember and celebrate, as well as things to look forward to as we get 2023 rolling.

2022 Milestones and Celebrations

Several of our exciting milestones and highlights from this year:

  • Official launch of the WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies
    • No longer just a pipe dream from the very first UnConference in 2019, the Disability Studies Steering Committee continued work in earnest on events and programming, course development, and importantly, proposing the Institute through multiple rounds of listening sessions, pre-proposal, and finally proposal.  The ICDS was officially launched in the Spring Quarter of 2022 as an Institute housed under Academic Affairs.  With the co-director searches concluding in Fall 2022, Andrew and GIM (previously interim co-directors) will begin their official appointments in Winter Quarter 2023.
  • Official launch of the academic program in Disability Studies
  • Proposals for a new minor and new core courses in Critical Disability Studies submitted Dec 2022!
    • An extra thank you to the faculty and students contributing to the DS Minor Task Force in the final push to prepare materials for the minor and help us get everything submitted before the quarter’s end!
    • Learn more about the new minor here.
  • Successful return of the DSAC UnConference
    • After a couple years of hiatus, we transitioned the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative Fall 2022 UnConference from a one-day and fully in-person event to a hybrid in-person and remote event covering two days of workshops, panels, and talks.  Participants were primarily local to the Pacific Northwest, but we had involvement from across the U.S. and Canada.
  • Students recognized through a new ICDS scholarship
    • The inaugural Mark West Scholarship was established this year and awarded to our first two recipients: Graduate student Pheonix Booth and undergraduate student Hillary Banks.
  • Students supported and employed through the ICDS
    • We are incredibly grateful to our first Graduate TAs (GTAs), who have been involved at the ICDS in many projects including: UnConference organizing and student staff mentorship, Student Advisory Council creation, and feedback in committees and ad-hoc task forces.
    • We are also thankful for the work of 11 additional student employees who staffed and moderated events at the Fall 2022 UnConference and helped the technical logistics of our hybrid conference to run smoothly.

2023 Upcoming Winter Quarter Highlights

Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates coming out at the beginning of this year:

  • Winter 2023: News on DS Minor and new courses proposed in Fall 2022
    • We are looking forward to sharing the status of our new courses and new Minor in Critical Disability Studies later this quarter.
  • January 2023: ICDS Fellows will begin their year-long Fellowship

Note – Action item for Faculty & Staff ICDS Affiliates:

Early in January, we’ll be sending out an email with meeting agenda and scheduling for our next quarterly Disability Studies and Action Collaborative (Disability Studies Steering Committee) general meeting, so we’ll get to catch up with you more at that time! 

We hope you have a good remainder of your Winter intersession and a Happy New Year!

With gratitude,

-ICDS co-directors
GIM (he/they) & Andrew (he/him)
icds@wwu.edu

P.S. You can make a year-end tax-deductible donation to the WWU ICDS here.

Subscribe or unsubscribe from the WWU ICDS mailing list using this google form

Two Year-End Announcements from the Institute For Critical Disability Studies

The ICDS is announcing two exciting programs to wrap up 2022. 

First, visit this page to get a preview of the Critical Disability Studies minor, which is set to begin in Fall 2023. Check out a video about the program and give us some feedback. 

Second, visit this page to find out about our first annual ICDS Fellows program. We are seeking applications from faculty, staff, and community members until January 2nd, 2023.

As always, reach out to Andrew Lucchesi and G McGrew, the ICDS co-directors, at icds@wwu.edu

Join the Disability Studies and Action Collaborative mailing list for newsletters and events!

 

‘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

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.

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.

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

 

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

Join us for the DSI’s first event of the academic year!

 

The Disability Intersections Roundtable. 

This virtual roundtable — to be held from 1:30-3:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, October 16 — marks the Western Washington University Institute for Critical Disability Studies’ first event of the academic year, and we will be joined by Dr. Nirmala Erevelles, Dr. Margaret Price, Dr. Ellen Samuels, and Dr. Rana Yaghmaian, who will offer brief 7–10-minute presentations about their research related to disability and intersectionality. This will be followed by an open-ended conversation in which presenters and members of the audience will be invited to participate. We aim to create a space for difficult conversations, particularly about the ways that disability, race, and health status interact.

This event is sponsored by the Chuckanut Health Foundation and the WWU Institute for Critical Disability Studies.

Use this Zoom link to join the webinar: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/j/94952448140?pwd=K0tpcjlJWGpmczVkVXNGTnhwUG1OZz09

Attendees on campus wishing to view the roundtable can do so in CV 207. All in-person attendees must be in compliance with WWU’s COVID-19 policy and remain masked and socially distanced during the event.