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Despite recent societal changes, people with disabilities, chronic illnesses and/or neurodivergence are still underrepresented in society, popular culture, medical and academic disciplines. Lack of understanding of and intellectual engagement with disabilities, chronic illnesses and/or neurodivergence reinforce stereotypes and barriers. In this module, students take an autoethnographic, reflexive approach to exploring disabilities, chronic illnesses and neurodivergence in society in general, and more specifically in the contexts of the studies of film, media and literature; law; geography and architecture; business, enterprise and economy; and disability studies, medicine and sociology.

Teaching Delivery

10 lectures held weekly for 2 hours each plus 10 seminars held weekly for 1 hour each. Seminars are led by PGTAs.Ìý

Indicative Topics

Week 1: Introduction and (Auto)Ethnography as a form of enquiryÌý

Week 2: Equality act and disability lawÌý

Week 3: Models of disabilityÌý

Week 4: Who am I and who are you? Prejudices, biases and assumptionsÌý

Week 5: Innovations, inventions and "solutions" - Do we need to "fix" disabilities?Ìý

Week 6: Disability representation in popular culture, film and mediaÌý

Week 7: Privileged but marginalised: the lived experience - intersectionalityÌý

Week 8: Disability as a global challengeÌý

Week 9: Advocacy and social activismÌý

Week 10: Where do I stand now? Identity as multi-dimensional

This is an indicative overview, and it is subject to change. Some lectures are delivered by guest speakers, which means we need to negotiate availabilities and timings.ÌýÌý

Module aims and objectives

The module will…Ìý
- introduce key theoretical concepts of and approaches to equality, disability and inclusionÌý
- examine the presentation and representation of disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergence in and across disciplines (film, media and literature; law; geography and architecture; business, enterprise and economy; medicine and sociology)Ìý
- explore experiences of disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergence as a lens for illuminating wider social, medical and political processesÌý
- compare change and continuity of representations of disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergence across historical, geographical and disciplinary contextsÌý
- develop research skills and techniques through autoethnographic and reflexive enquiry into contemporary, public settingsÌý
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By the end of the module students will be able to:Ìý
1. identify different models of viewing disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergenceÌý
2. appraise the particular contribution disciplinary approaches make to considerations around disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergenceÌý
3. analyse how representations and experiences of disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergence impact and are impacted by disciplinary and societal realitiesÌý
4. demonstrate understanding of perceptions and experiences of disabilities, chronic illness and neurodivergenceÌý
5. apply an autoethnographic perspective to exploring equality, disability and inclusion, as well as wider issues of social justiceÌý
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Recommended Readings

https://ucl.rl.talis.com/modules/basc0039.htmlÌý