Wingspan “Dis/ability Arts, Culture, & Public Pedagogy: A/r/t/ographies for Access by Youth with Disabilities”. Dis/Arts-based Participatory Research Program

Project Website

Wingspan Grand Opening  – October 19, 20, 21

Grand Opening Poster

This research cluster asks all to imagine a world in which disabled people are leading active equitable lives with voices which are heard and respected– whose access to the 1) creative artistic practice is unfettered; 2) whose cultural contributions enter the mainstream to challenge and transform misguided stereotypes, pedagogies, curricula, policies and legislation, as well as document the urgency of access to the 3) built environment; 4) education; 5) wage work, and, 6) health care.

The key research questions animating this dis/arts-based participatory research program are:

  1. How may Dis/Arts research uncover and shed light on the new barriers for people and youth with disabilities in a globalized world with great economic disparities both within Canada and the Global South?
  2. How may socially engaging disability performing and visual arts be made accessible through documentary film and digital story-telling to provide examples of social change?
  3. How may a Dis/Arts movement for accessibility led by youth with disabilities and with the mentorship of professional Dis/Artists and disability studies scholars open up new possibilities for social innovation in Canada, particularly with teacher education and educational leadership programs for administrators, schools, teachers, policy-makers in the arts, government, NGO’s and private sectors?
  4. What best practices exist for accessible Dis/Arts, performing & visual arts, curricular and digital media that could improve policies and legislation governing the lives of youth with disabilities?
  5. What workshops, training, curricular support and resources need to be developed for community-engaged Dis/Arts visual, performing arts, and accessible digital learning?

Funded by: UBC Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters: Creative and Performing Arts