Even outside of the social model of disability, identity and the interactions between people and systems are a rich topic for disability and accessibility research. Topics in this area could include interpersonal and systemic ableism, the politics of disability, and more. Explore the resources below to start your research on disability in society.
Databases
- AgeLine (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowAgeLine focuses on those aged 50+ and the literature of social gerontology. Covers aging-related content from the health sciences, psychology, sociology, social work, economics, and public policy.
- Proquest Sociology This link opens in a new windowFull text articles about sociology and social work, including culture and social structure, history and theory of sociology, social psychology, substance abuse and more.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowOne of the most trusted sources for scholarly books and historical journal backfiles. Beginning in 2023, JSTOR also includes ArtStor images of art and primary source artifacts.
Signing Black in America
- Signing Black in America"Just like spoken languages, sign languages have dialects. Black ASL is the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. Largely unknown to outsiders, Black ASL has become a symbol of solidarity and a vital part of identity within the Black Deaf community. For more about the documentary project, check out www.TalkingBlackInAmerica.org"
Universal Design
Universal design is an approach to building, product or environmental design that prioritizes usability by all people to the greatest extent possible. Some disabled people will still need accommodations or adaptations. Fewer adaptions will be needed overall because designers prioritized accessibility.
- The Principles of Universal DesignThe authors, a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, collaborated to establish the following Principles of Universal Design to guide a wide range of design disciplines including environments, products, and communications. These seven principles may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments.
Books
Feminist, Queer, Crip (Opens in new window) by ISBN: 9780253009418Publication Date: 2013-05-16Challenging the ways in which ideas about the future and time have been deployed in the service of compulsory able-bodiedness and able-mindedness, Kafer rejects the idea of disability as a pre-determined limit. She juxtaposes theories, movements, and identities such as environmental justice, reproductive justice, cyborg theory, transgender politics, and disability that are typically discussed in isolation and envisions new possibilities for crip futures and feminist/queer/crip alliances. This bold book goes against the grain of normalization and promotes a political framework for a more just world.
It's a Small World (Opens in new window) by ISBN: 9781563686535Publication Date: 2015-12-15It's a Small World explores the fascinating and, at times, controversial concept of DEAF-SAME ("I am deaf, you are deaf, and so we are the same") and its influence on deaf spaces locally and globally. Each chapter in this original volume highlights a new perspective on the multiple intersections that occur between nationalities, cultures, languages, religions, races, genders, and identities.
Spectrums (Opens in new window) by ISBN: 9781787750159Publication Date: 2020-09-21Written by autistic trans people from around the world, this vital and intimate collection of personal essays reveals the struggles and joys of living at the intersection of neurodivergence and gender diversity. Weaving memories, poems and first-person narratives together, these stories showcase experiences of coming out, college and university life, accessing healthcare, physical transition, friendships and relationships, sexuality, pregnancy, parenting, and late life self-discovery, to reveal a rich and varied tapestry of life lived on the spectrums.
Negotiating Disability (Opens in new window) by ISBN: 9780472123391Publication Date: 2017-11-15Disability is not always central to claims about diversity and inclusion in higher education, but should be. This collection reveals the pervasiveness of disability issues and considerations within many higher education populations and settings, from classrooms to physical environments to policy impacts on students, faculty, administrators, and staff. While disclosing one's disability and identifying shared experiences can engender moments of solidarity, the situation is always complicated by the intersecting factors of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class.
