LGBTQ Students With Disabilities From High School to Graduate School: An Intersectional Approach

• In Event: Narratives and Critical Perspectives for Situating Dis/Ability in Identities and Schools

Abstract

This paper presents findings from three studies whose purposes were to understand the lived experiences of adolescents and young adults with disabilities who identify as LGBTQI and how those experiences shape identity. We purported to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of young adults as they navigated the overlap of heterosexism and ableism across lifespans & environments, filling needed gap in the literature. Each of these studies employ qualitative methods situated in disability studies and queer studies to explore the personal narratives of high school or college students with a disability who identify as a sexual or gender minority. The findings from these unique studies each contribute to our understanding of the complexity of intersecting social identities.

Authors

• Lauren Gutmann Kahn, University of Oregon

• Ryan Miller, The University of Texas - Austin

• Amanda Bell, Eastern Michigan University

• Richmond D. Wynn, University of North Florida