Intersectional Identity Work: A Qualitative Research Synthesis of Disability Research in Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 15
  In Roundtable Session: Mapping the Contexts of Disability Studies

Abstract

The proposed Qualitative Research Synthesis (QRS) identifies critical connections between dis/ability labels and other markers of identity such as race, gender and social class. We synthesized 13 qualitative studies (2006-2018) that explored the lived experiences of students of color labeled with disabilities. QRS is a methodologically rigorous approach which “uses qualitative methods to analyze, synthesize, and [re]interpret the results from qualitative studies” (Major & Savin-Baden, 2010, p. 10). We employed interdisciplinary framework of dis/ability critical race studies (Annamma, Connor & Ferri, 2013) and psycho-emotional model of disablism (Thomas, 1999) to recognize students’ intersectional identity work (Watson, 2007). Our findings suggest students identified disability labels as an assigned identity informed by their other identity markers in the education system.

Authors

• Shehreen Iqtadar, University of Northern Iowa

• David Isaac Hernandez-Saca, University of Northern Iowa

• Scott Ellison, University of Northern Iowa