DS 610 - Disability Studies, Inclusion, and Justice

(3 units)

This seminar explores disability justice through history, design, parasport, media, and early intervention. Using contemporary theories from Foucault, bell hooks, Freire, and Butler, students analyze systemic ableism, activism, and intersectionality. The course integrates Universal Design for Learning (UDL) labs, films, and media critiques to foster inclusive practices and deepen understanding of disability justice in social and educational context.

Maximum units a student may earn: 3

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. explain how disability is shaped by historical, legal, and cultural systems, and apply critical frameworks such as disability justice, DisCrit, and intersectional theory to analyze those influences.
2. apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to assess and improve accessibility in educational, media, and physical environments.
3. critically engage with and interpret disability representation in media, arts, and public discourse through informed analysis and creative expression.
4. reflect on personal and social positionality, engaging with power, privilege, and identity in relation to disability and broader systems of oppression.
5. synthesize concepts related to disability studies and disability justice and apply them to their work within the real world.

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