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I'm applying to postdocs and jobs this cycle and I have not seen one job listing for history of medicine, early American history, or american studies that explicitly lists disability studies as a field of specialization that the hiring committee is interested in. 1/6
You have disabled students at your uni. They should have the ability to take disability studies classes from scholars trained explicitly in the field. I put a bet five years ago on taking up this specialization, and it's not paying off, which leaves me wondering "what next?" 2/6
What happens when disability studies is still a nascent field you can dip your toes in but not really focus on? When you can get a PhD in it but not a job? Disabled people, like me, are carving out spaces in the academy to talk about academic ableism. 3/6
But once we have provided cheap teaching labor the academy spits us out (like it does to so many minority groups). We're worth funding for temporary representation, to do labor and serve on committees, but we're not worth hiring explicitly for our talents and diversity. 4/6
I don't know where the academy goes from here or how disabled students can do more to advocate for their inclusion. Students should see themselves represented on campus. Disabled people should be able to guide the academic field so that it remains accountable. 5/6
I want to see disabled individuals as my profs. I want to see them conduct research and hold the uni accountable to students. I want to see disabled scholars hold unis accountable for the ways they shape our communities, and the ways the leave us behind. 6/6 #AcademicChatter
