2024 UnConference Program – final

• Check-in & refreshments: AW ground floor & AW sky bridge (top floor)
  • 9:30 am – 10:15 am
• Welcome: AW sky bridge
  • 10:15 am – 10:30 am
• Workshop Session A – Discovery: Multiple Rooms
  • 10:45 am – 12:00 pm
• Lunch: AW sky bridge
  • 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
• Workshop Session B – Opportunities: Multiple Rooms
  • 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
• Workshop Session C – Project Development: Multiple Rooms
  • 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
• Day 1 Closing Session D – Sharing Out
  • 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

• Morning refreshments: AW sky bridge (top floor)
  • 9:30 am – 10:00 am
• Morning Panel and Presentation Sessions
  • 10:00 am – 11:15 am
    • Session A1: Room 412
       Employment, Volunteering, and Career Success
    • Session A2: Room 405
      Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
    • Session A3: Room 403
      Complexity of Disability Identity
  • 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
    • Session B1: Room 412
      Leadership and Business
    • Session B2: Room 405
      Workshop: Letters I Wish I Could Send
    • Session B3: Room 403
      Advising and Student Advocacy
• Lunch: AW sky bridge & AW 408
  • 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
• Afternoon Panel and Presentation Sessions
  • 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
    • Session C1: Room 412
      Support Staff and Faculty Discussion Session
    • Session C2: Room 405
      Disability Analysis and Disability Justice
    • Session C3: Room 403
      Student Experience Discussion Session
  • 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
    • Session D1: Room
      • Land, Space, and Place
    • Session D2: Room 405
      • Equitable Education Experience
    • Session D3: Room 403
      Disability and the Arts
  • 4:00 – 5:00 pm
    • Session E1: Room 412
      Building Systems of Support
    • Session E2: Room 405
      Critical Disability Studies Discussion Session
    • Session E3: Room 403
      Community Organizing

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Session A1: Employment, Volunteering, and Career Success

This panel focuses on the importance of accessible and fulfilling opportunities for work and volunteer opportunities. 

 

Session A2: Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence

This panel explores aspects of neurodivergence both at the broad level of cultural identity and at the specific level of student support and access.

 

Session A3: Complexity of Disability Identity

This panel explores the complexities of disability experience, especially connections to other aspects of identity such as age and sexuality.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm 

Session B1: Leadership and Business

This panel explores the connections between disability experience and entrepreneurship and leadership in business. Topics include ADEI, digital equality, and community building.

Session B2: Workshop: Letters I Wish I Could Send

Session B3: Advising and Student Advocacy

This panel explores the importance of systems of support for disabled students at Western. It focuses on areas of advising, physical access, and peer support.

 

12:30 – 1:30 pm – Lunch Break

 

1:30 – 2:45 pm

Session C1: Support Staff and Faculty Discussion Session

This is an un-scripted roundtable conversation for as many faculty and staff who are interested in participating. Topics will include supporting disabled students and experiences as disabled members of campus.

Session C2: Disability Analysis and Disability Justice

This panel examines disability topics through the lens of cultural critique and political engagement. Topics include colonization, weaponization, and intersectionality.

 

Session C3: Student Experience Discussion Session

This is an un-scripted roundtable conversation for any students interested in participating. Topics will include student experiences, accessibility issues, and disability culture.

3:00 – 3:45 pm 

Session D1: Land, Space, and Place

This panel explores the importance of access to outdoor spaces and recreation as the basis for equitable community.

 

Session D2: Equitable Education Experience

This panel focuses on access in educational settings, especially in higher education. Topics include student supports and disabled student experience.

 

Session D3: Disability and the Arts

This panel explores disability through the lens of art and theater. Topics will include the connection between disability identity and artistic production and the importance of artistic expression for disability politics and identity.

 

4:00 – 5:00 pm

Session E1: Building Systems of Support

This panel focuses on effective and equitable ways to support disabled people in accessing resources, especially in times of life transition.

Session E2: Critical Disability Studies Discussion Session

This is an un-scripted roundtable conversation for anyone interested in the academic field of critical disability studies. Topics will include teaching disability studies, current research projects, and courses

Session E3: Community Organizing

This panel focuses on disability cultural work, including building disability-positive and accessible communities and events.