Critical Disability Studies and Epistemic Justice

• In Event: 3121 - Social Justice through the Lens of Disability

Abstract

As critical scholars working with movements for queer and disability justice, crafting research, art and wisdom, with/alongside communities under siege, we will discuss the epistemological, ethical, methodological commitments and response-abilities of just research in contentious times. Michelle Fine will reflect on the radically thrilling biography of critical disability studies, from early work with Adrienne Asch, to the participatory work with young people making sense and making bodies, in times of rising inequalities, swelling hate crimes and waves of resistance on the streets. With Austin Oswald we will introduce our work with What's Your Issue? a national participatory survey of more than 6000 queer youth, analyzing in particular the dreams/desires/struggles/activisms and radical wit narrated by participants who identify as having a disability. And Emese Ilyes will fold in magnificent work with a group of artists and activists, working as a collective in a sheltered work shop, where together they build community and knowledge, with critical care. From these distinct projects we will animate a series of response-abilities for ethical and liberatory research with and for disability justice.

Authors

• Michelle Fine, The Graduate Center, CUNY

• Austin Oswald, The Graduate Center, CUNY

• Emese Ilyes, The Graduate Center, CUNY