Who Belongs in College? Part I: A U.S. History of Dis/Ability, Access & Advocacy

Who belongs in college? Who doesn’t? Where do these beliefs come from? In Part I of this three-part participatory workshop, we will take a comprehensive look back at the history of dis/ability and aptitude, spanning from the ancient world to early European invasion in the Americas. With ample opportunity for discussion and reflection, we will explore how the definition of dis/ability in the U.S. has been constructed as a tool for oppression, how these historical and legal definitions still impact our understanding of dis/ability today, and how we can increase access in higher education for a cognitively and physically diverse student body. Please note: this workshop contains subject matter related to the historical violence, traumatization, and oppression of disabled people.

Key takeaways:

1. Understand how the definition of dis/ability in the U.S. has been constructed as tool for oppression

2. Understand how the historical and legal definitions of dis/ability still impact our understanding of aptitude today

3. Generate ideas on how we can increase access in higher education for a cognitively and physically diverse student body