Read on Twitter
My last topic will be more focused on #AcademicAbleism - I want to talk about systemic ableism I see in my field, and in higher ed in general. My undergraduate fields were international relations and economics, but I will refer broadly to social sciences. 1/
The first issue I want to talk about is conventions. This is a wide topic, & all fields have conventions, so I can only speak to my experience. But I want to highlight some ableist expectations that make attending certain events not possible for me & many other disabled folks. 2/
I have attended conventions including Model UN events, forensics (speech & debate), and research conferences. In all of these, the schedule was packed tightly, and lasted often 12 or more hours. This means I was unable to take breaks that are necessary to manage my illnesses. 3/
I also do not have the physical stamina to work that long. I would often become quite sick, but would blame myself for failing to meet my needs, making me more frustrated - long before I knew the term internalized ableism. 4/
Poll 1: Have you been able to attend academic conferences in your time in higher education? Were they accessible to you, and/ or were you able to access accommodations that made it accessible? 5/
Another complication is that I don’t “look” disabled, & was expected to perform at the same high level as my peers. I had “invisible illnesses” so my health issues often weren’t apparent.
(Not to say visibly disabled people face any less ableism!) 6/
https://tinyurl.com/y53xh8g7
(Not to say visibly disabled people face any less ableism!) 6/
https://tinyurl.com/y53xh8g7
Academia often operates on a strict timetable. Deadlines cannot be pushed due to unpredictable health flare ups, unless you see a doctor - which, with chronic conditions,can be difficult & ineffective. Stress - like from finals - can trigger flare ups. 7/ https://tinyurl.com/y5pdhoco
Poll 2: Have you experienced a period where your disability made it significantly more difficult to be a student than other times (such as a flare up)? Have you been able to, more often than not, access breaks and/ or extensions to compensate for these periods of time? 8/
A barrier in my field is the expectation of travel. I mentioned in a previous thread I was able to study abroad. In social sciences, & much of academia, we're expected to move to where career opportunities are best. But this is hard for disabled people. 9/ https://tinyurl.com/y5z5dsjw
Moving itself is stressful. For disabled people, it also means leaving a support system they may depend on, finding a new healthcare team, & getting accessible & affordable housing. This is difficult, & if any aspect goes poorly, our health can suffer. 10/ https://tinyurl.com/yyhwrpxz
Traveling in the short term is less risky, but still difficult to varying degrees, depending on the nature of a person’s disability.
Poll 3: Do you feel it is relatively difficult for you to travel? If so, are there accommodations that could make travel easier? Please share! 11/
Poll 3: Do you feel it is relatively difficult for you to travel? If so, are there accommodations that could make travel easier? Please share! 11/
My last point is about the politicalness behind claiming Disabled as an identity. One virtuous trait in academia is being a “hard worker” but the academy rarely sees the work disabled people already do just to have our fair spot in inaccessible spaces. 12/
https://tinyurl.com/yyqw6u8h
https://tinyurl.com/yyqw6u8h
Being openly ill in academia is political because, in many ways, societal issues & political influences fuel much disabled people’s pain, as well as what responses to that pain are “acceptable”. To be a disabled academic is to reject the broad system that contributes to pain. 13/
I was always encouraged to do more research, apply for more grants, join more extracurriculars, etc. But all of this came from abled people. I have been taught by only one (openly) disabled professor in my time in academia. I cannot expect the advice they give to apply to me…14/
...But I still get frustrated when I see my peers doing more than me. I am working on moving past this internalized ableism and being more open about my limitations, as well as celebrating the diversity and value of disability in academic spaces. 15/
https://tinyurl.com/y3r6a9u3
https://tinyurl.com/y3r6a9u3
Poll 4: Do you have #DisabledAcademicPride? Do you still struggle with internalized ableism? 16/
That’s it for me, folks! I have to get back to essay writing, but thank you to all who participated! Especially thank you to the @DisInHigherEd team for hosting and helping me! Like with all of our threads, please continue to interact with these topics as you wish! 17/17
