Being Blind and Belonging in Academia

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Sense of Belonging in Education

Abstract

Background.
Sense of belonging has significant impacts on success in academia. As students, faculty, or staff, blind people are not equally included. Blind peoples’ sense of belonging within academia has not been studied.
Approach.
Focus groups with blind faculty (n=5), staff (n=5), and students (n=18 illuminated blind perspectives on belonging in academia. Transcripts were coded line-by-line, compared/contrasted, and eventually themes emerged.
Results
Participants identified main factors contributing to experiences of belonging, and non-belonging: access issues, feeling like a burden, perceptions of blindness, and gestures of belonging.
Conclusion
This study provides crucial consciousness-raising for stakeholders in academia. Only when we create a space where everyone can belong will we truly be inclusive.

Authors

• Laura Y. Bulk, The University of British Columbia

• Tal Jarus, University of British Columbia

• Laura E. Nimmon, The University of British Columbia