The “Climate of Disabilities” at Postsecondary Institutions

Steven E. Brownsebrown@hawaii.edu

“Beyond Disability, Beyond Compliance”

2014 National Retreat at Duke University

Who is Steve?

Professor (retired), Disability Studies, University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies

http://www.cds.hawaii.edu

Co-Founder, Institute on Disability Culturehttp://www.instituteondisabilityculture.org

What is a Climate Assessment and Why is it Useful?

“The systematic measuring of effectiveness in an institution or program area so that an action plan for program improvement can be created and set in motion as a means of inducing change.” (from Stodden, Brown & Roberts, 2011).

Developing an Instrument1. What would you want to know about students at your University?

2. What would you want to know about faculty at your University?

3. What would you want to know about administrators at your University?

4. What would you want to know about facilities at your University?

5. What would you want to know about extra-curricular activities at your University?

6. What would you want to know about programs designed for students with disabilities at your University?

7. . What would you want to know about how students with disabilities fit into programs that not specifically designed for students with disabilities at your University?

Other Resources for Disability and Postsecondary Education from the

University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies

Teaching All Students, Reaching All Learners, Including Students with Disabilities as Diverse

Learners

Professional Development Training Program

http://www.ist.hawaii.edu/training/

Universal Design for LearningAssistive TechnologyHidden Disabilities

Rights and Responsibilities

Professional Development Modules

http://www.ist.hawaii.edu/modules/

UDLMentoring

Multiculturalism

Multiple Identities

http://www.ist.hawaii.edu/modules/multiculturalism/multiculturalism/index.php?counter=3

Cultural Identity Bubble Map

• Here is a template for you to create your own Cultural Identity Bubble Map.

• You are in the bubble at the center, with bubbles listing various aspects of your identity radiating to the center

• YOU

Here is a template for you to create your own Cultural Identity Bubble Map.

YOU

You are inthe bubble at the

center, with bubbles listing various

aspects of your identity radiating to

the center.

Creating Your Own Cultural Identity Bubble Map

Children from different cultures wearing different colors. 10

Disability Culture & Pride

http://www.ist.hawaii.edu/modules/multiculturalism/theory/index.php?counter=7

Examples of disability culture on campus

Disability Cultural Centers

University of Minnesota (1991):http://www.dsccumn.org/

Syracuse University (2012):http://sudcc.syr.edu/

Longmore Institute – San Francisco State U (2012):http://longmoreinstitute.wordpress.com/

Institute on Disability Culture

Links & Resources:

http://www.instituteondisabilityculture.org/links--resources.html

Using Disability Culture

How might knowing about or having examples of disability culture be useful?

1. Explain why people with disabilities think our culture is important.

2. Use examples to demonstrate disability rights, history, talents and resources.

How can the discourse of disability culture relate to general discourse of social experience

on campuses?

Prejudice is a far greater problem than any impairment; discrimination a bigger obstacle to

overcome than any disability.”

Paul K. Longmore

ReferencesBrown, S. E. (2003). Movie Stars and Sensuous Scars: Essays on the Journey from Disability Shame to Disability Pride. New York: People with Disabilities Press.

Stodden, R.A., Brown, S. E. & Roberts, K. (2011). Disability-Friendly University Environments: Conducting a Climate Assessment. In In Harbour, Wendy S. and Madaus, Joseph W. (Eds.) New Directions for Higher Education: Disability services and campus dynamics (pp. 83-92). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.