Past Events and Projects

Past Events

Spring 2024

  • Zoom Event! Disability Justice in MN: A Community Conversation. Community members of Amplify MN: A Disability Justice Collective, moderated by Dr. Angela Carter, March 11, 2024.
  • Accessibility Across Contexts. Co-facilitators: Ursula Stachl-Peier and Karl-Franzens; panelists: Khaled Musa and Madeeha Lamoreaux, March 6, 2024.
  • An Uncommon Bodies Symposium: Premodern Disability and Race in a Global Context, Dr. Jennifer Row and Dr. Penelope Geng, University of MN and Macalester College, Feb. 15-16, 2024.
  • Dr. Leah Pennywark & Dr. Erin Durban, Critical Disability Studies Book Publication Workshop, Feb. 2, 2024.

Fall 2023

  • Dr. Angela Carter, History of Science, Technology and Medicine Colloquium, Dec. 4, 2023.
  • "Ordinary Bodies: Phil Squod and the Social Model of Victorian Care," Dr. Talia Schaffer, Dept. of English, Nov. 30, 2023. 
  • Watch Party: "Art+Medicine: Disability, Culture and Creativity," feat. Dr. Jessica Horvath Williams, Oct. 29, 2023.

Summer 2023

  • Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2023: Amplifying Accessibility. University of Minnesota, May 18, 2023.

Spring 2023

  • RIDGS Book Talk: Dr. Jennifer Eun-Jung Row in Conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Freeman, Queer Velocities: Time, Sex, and Biopower on the Early Modern Stage, April 24, 2023.
  • Minnesota Transform Showcase, April 17 to April 21, 2023. Including Dr. Angela Carter, "GRUDGE (Groundbreaking Research on Under-resourced, Disabled, Graduate Experiences) Report: Preliminary Findings," April 18, 2023.
  • RIDGS Book Talk: Dr. Erin Durban in Conversation with Dr. Omise'eke Tinsley, The Sexual Politics of Empire, April 13, 2023.
  • Queer/Trans* Ecologies Symposium, Eli Clare, Sandor Katz, Abraham Weil, Carly Thomsen, Heather Davis, Queer Ecologies Hanky Project, Mel Y. Chen, Eva Hayward, Lorena Munoz, Erin L. Durban, Corinne Teed, Jennifer Row, Michelle Murphy, Patricia Kaishian, Martin Manalansan, Kale Bantigue Fajardo, Cleo Wolfle Hazard, Juno Salazar Parrenas, Anahi Russo-Garrido, Macarena Gomez-Barris, Dylan McCarthy Blackston. Panels, Art Exhibit, Workshops, Fermentation, Dance Party. With Queer/Trans* Ecologies Interdisciplinary Collaborative Workshop. March 23-25, 2023. 
  • Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy's "Campus Conversations on Reproductive Justice," including Erika Rodriguez, March 1, 2023. 
  • Teaching with Access and Inclusion, February 2 and 16, March 2, 2023, through CEI. cancelled.
  • "Disability Justice: An Accessibility Ambassadors Event," Angela Carter and Katie Loop, Accessibility Ambassadors Event, January 26, 2023.

Fall 2022

  • "Academic Ableism Webinar," Katie Loop and Angela Carter, Accessibility Ambassadors Event, December 15, 2022. 
  • Pandemic Politics and the Viral Underclass: Understanding Sickness and Wellness, Steven Thrasher, Co-sponsor with IAS, November 17, 2022.
  • Reading Club: “Pandemic Politics and the Viral Underclass: Understanding Sickness and Wellness,” November 14, 2022.
  • Accessibility in Research Roundtable, October 28, 2022. 
  • CDSC "Sweater Weather" Welcome Back Reception, October 18, 2022. 
  • Minnesota Transform Research Study, aiming to deepen understanding of the systemic barriers and the survival strategies of marginalized, disabled graduate students (began September 2022). 
  • Teaching with Access and Inclusion (TAI) Program, with Center for Educational Innovation. To register for future events, please visit the TAI website

Summer 2022

  • The Interdisciplinary Collaborative Working Group, “Refusing Disposability: Racial and Disability Justice Toward Another World," May through August. 

Spring 2022

  • CDS and Queer/Trans * Ecologies Reading Group, April 4. 
  • Jonathan Hsy Visit and Lecture Series, supported by the Center for Premodern Studies, the Uncommon Bodies Reading group and the CDSC
    • Uncommon Bodies, the Center for Premodern Studies, and the CDSC reading group on Hsy's Antiracist Medievalisms, prior to Hsy's visit
    • “Medievalism Meets Disability Justice: Life Writing and Social Change,” April 28.
    • Hsy's "Disability Pedagogy Syllabus Workshop," April 29.
  • IAS Teaching with Access and Inclusion, co-sponsored MNT, weekly on January and April.

Fall 2021

  • "IAS Thursdays | Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization, Disability Justice, and Prison Abolition," Liat Ben-Moshe, October 21st.

Spring 2021

  • IAS Critical Disability Studies Research Colloquium, "Virtual Lightning Round," featuring Angela M. Carter, Jessica Horvath Williams, Jennifer Row, Erin L. Durban, Rachel Presley, Megan Finch, Laura Leppink, Sarah Pawlicki. April 21st
  • Sacrificial Limbs: Masculinity, Disability, and Political Violence in Turkey. Salih Can Açiksöz, March 26, 2021.

Fall 2020

  • "Unpredictable Embodiment and the Limits of (This)Order." December 4th.
  • "Plastic vitalities: critical disability studies approaches to environmental injury in the anthropocene." November 6th.
  • "Race, disability, and voting rights." October 23rd.
  • "Why Mental Health Matters." Teaching with access and inclusion discussion series. October 15th.
  • "Cripping the welfare queen: the radical potential of disability politics." October 9th.
  • "Fall kick-off." September 25th.
  • "Supporting Students: Reframing Disability." Teaching with access and inclusion discussion series. September 17th.
  • "Centering Access & Inclusion." Teaching with access and inclusion discussion series. August 20th.

Spring 2020

  • "A Radical Pedagogy Conversation: Teaching Disability Access and Justice." Presented by Dr. Allison Hobgood, Willamette College. February 14th.
  • CDSC Foundations Series: "What is Ableism?" Facilitated by Jay Wilson, Senior Access Consultant at the Disability Resource Center and Sarah Garcia, PhD Candidate in Sociology. March 23rd.
  • CDSC Foundations Series: "Disability Justice During COVID19." Facilitated by Dr. Angela M. Carter, Access Consultant at the Disability Resource Center.
  • "The Critical Disability Studies Collective: An Informational Event." Facilitated by Dr. Angela Carter and Jessica Horvath Williams, CDSC Co-Chairs. May 20th.

Fall 2019

  • CDSC Foundations Series: "What is Critical Disability Studies now?" September 27th.
  • CDSC Foundations Series: "Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Dis/ability" October 18th.
  • CDSC Foundations Series: "Disability Pedagogy." November 1st.
  • CDSC Foundations Series: "Disability Justice." December 6th.
  • "Disability Justice and Sexual Violence" A presentation by Lee Blair, GWSS Major. December 6th.

Spring 2019

  • "Useless Eaters, Public Charges, Hulking Monsters: Disability and Surviving State Violence." A Lecture by Lydia X. Z. Brown. February 1st.
  • "Cripping Intersectionality: Neurodiversity and Disability Justice" A lecture by Lydia X. Z. Brown February 1st.
  • "No Liberation Without Disability Justice: Disrupting Ableism As Community Organizers and Freedom Fighters" A Workshop Facilitated by Lydia X. Z. Brown. February 2nd.
  • "Dreaming the Disabled Future With Leah Lakshmi PiepznaSamarasinha." February 27th.
  • "CareWebs Experiences in Collective Care" facilitated by Leah Lakshmi PiepznaSamarasinha. February 27th.
  • "Rethinking Interdependency: Desiring Messy Dependency." A Lecture by Akemi Nishida. April 19th.

Fall 2018

  • "Equity, Justice & Difference at Home & Abroad." A lecture by Nirmala Erevelles. September 25th.
  • "Dreaming Wild Disability Justice Dreams: A Kick Off Discussion Event." September 27th.
  • "Disability Justice in Activism and Organizing: Local Action to StateWide Change." Panel facilitated by Jay Wilson, Senior Access Consultant at the Disability Resource Center at the University of Minnesota. October 18th. Panelists included:
    • Rick Cardenas, longtime local disability activist and organizer currently working with the ReConnect Rondo Project.
    • Mai Thor, Civic Engagement Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
    • Octavian E. Robinson, Professor of ASL, Interpreting Studies, and Communications Equity at St. Catherine University.
    • Nikki VillavicencioTollison, Disability Rights Activist.
  • "Disability Justice in CampusWide Organizing & Activism". Panel facilitated by Sarah Garcia, PhD Candidate in Sociology at the University of Minnesota. November 15th. Panelists included members from:
    • The Disabled Studies Cultural Center (DSCC)
    • The Organization for Graduate and Professional Students with Disabilities (OGPSD)
    • The Critical Disability Studies Collective (CDSC)
    • The Access Assistants from the Disability Resource Center (DRC)

Spring 2018

  • Reading Group: The Right to Maim by Jasbir Puar. January 26th.
  • Reading Group: Academic Ableism by Jay Dolmage. February 2nd.
  • Black Disability Studies Reading Group. February 23rd and March 23rd.
    • Is Disability Studies Actually White Disability Studies? by Chris Bell.
    • Blue Blackness, Black Blueness: Making Sense of Blackness and Disability by Theri A. Pickens.
    • The Greatest Degree of Perfection: Disability and the Constitution of Race in American Slave Law by Jennifer Barclay.
    • Bitch you Must Be Crazy: Representations of Mental Illness in Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Diana Louis.
    • Metaphorically Speaking: Ableist Metaphors in Feminist Writing by Sami Schalk.
    • Select articles on police brutality against black disabled people by Leroy Moore.
  • “Interrogating AntiBlack Racism and Disablement: A Critical Disability Studies Symposium.” April 12th and 13th. Speakers and presentations included:
    • "The Untold Black Disabled Reality Through Hard Hitting Poetry and Song." Performance by Leroy F. Moore, Founder of Krip-Hop Nation and Co-Founder of Sins Invalid.
    • "The Colored Insane: African American Narratives of Mental Disability in the 19th Century." Presentation by Dr. Diana Louis, University of Michigan.
    • "Organizing Racial & Disability Justice in Chicago." Presentation by Candace Coleman, Access Living Community Organizer.
    • "Black Women’s Speculative Fiction and Deconstruction of Able-Mindedness." Presented by Dr. Sami Schalk, University of Wisconsin - Madison.
    • "Strategies of Resistance." Keynote panel facilitated by Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs, writer, independent scholar, poet, activist and educator. Panelists included: Candace Coleman, Diana Louis, Leroy Moore, and Sami Schalk.

Fall 2017

  • "What’s Critical about Critical Disability Studies Now?" A Welcome Event and Discussion. September 29th.
  • "Sustainable Design Strategies and the Future of Accessibility". Invited Lecture by Johnna Keller. October 26th.
  • "Imagining Cultures of Access: Race, Disability, and Mental Health On Campus." Invited Lectures and a roundtable discussion with Dr. Margaret Price, Ohio State University and Dr. Mimi Khúc, Georgetown University. October 27th.

Spring 2017

  • "Boys in the Bubble: Sexual Liberation, Disability and Prime Time Television." Visiting Lecture by Dr. Julie Passanante Elman, University of Missouri. February 24th.
  • "Empire’s Other other: Thinking Intersectionally in Transnational Contexts." Invited Lecture by Dr. Nirmala Erevelles, University of Alabama. April 14th.
  • "Pride, not Pity: Disability as a Culture." Part of the Office of Equity and Diversity Program Series "Critical Conversations about Diversity and Justice." April 21st.
  • Visiting Artist Talk by Park McArthur at the Regis Center for Art

Fall 2016

  • "Still ‘Absolutely Positive’." Documentary screening and discussion. December 2nd.
  • "Disability Justice is a Feminist Issue." Lecture as a part of the Women’s Center Feminist Fridays

Spring 2016

  • "Disability Liberated: Mourn the Dead and Fight Like Hell of the Living" Documentary screening and discussion.
  • "Defective, Deficient, Burdensome: Thinking about Bad Bodies." Visiting Lecture by Eli Clare.
  • "Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement." Documentary screening and discussion.

Fall 2015

  • "Dialogues in Dis/Ability" A Series of 4 Film Screenings & Discussions. Topics Included: Defining Disability, The History of the Disability Rights Movement, Disability Activism in MN, and Disability Arts & Culture. October 16th, October 30th, November 13th, and November 20th. Films included:
    • "Fixated: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement."
    • "Vital Signs: Crip Culture Talks Back."
    • "Offense taken: A Community Response to the ‘R’ Word"
    • "The Real Story: Media Coverage of Disability Issues in Minnesota."
    • "Disability Culture Rap"
    • "Sins Invalida: An Unshamed Claim to Beauty."

Past Projects

Critical Disability Studies Program-Building

This project is focused on building a CDC program at the University of Minnesota, such as connecting with affiliates, working on building the curriculum for an undergraduate minor, and creating support for the program through collaboration with advocates such as the Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Dreaming Up the Change Disability Makes (Imagine Chair in Arts, Design, and Humanities) 

This project has been structured as a rotating chairship shared among Professors Tammy Berberi (UMN Morris), Jigna Desai (UMN TC, CDSC alum), and Jennifer Row (UMN TC). The Imagine Chairs actively seek to build collaborations furthering disability studies program building across UMN campuses. This includes course creation, grant writing, and pedagogical programming. The Imagine Chairs also advocate for disability issues as they intersect with University life, including disability-friendly COVID-19 policies and antiracist positions.

Refusing Disposability: Racial and Disability Justice Toward Another World

This initiative aims to further the interrogation of, and resistance to, the causes and consequences of disposability. Thinking alongside disability and racial justice activists, our three-year interdisciplinary workshop examines intersectional analyses, public histories, and transformative praxis as a form of counter-knowledge that contends that #NoBodyIsDisposable. 

Teaching with Access and Inclusion (TAI)  

The words are simple. The concepts seem straightforward. Yet, the process of incorporating accessibility and inclusion into everyday teaching practices leaves many instructors wondering how to put the words and concepts into practice. The TAI program presents workshops around critical frameworks and practical strategies towards creating more equitable educational experiences for all.

RoundTable for Imagining Cultures of Access
Strategies of Resistance panel
Hacking the DSM