The image includes the Disability Pride Flag. which was a collaborative design effort by Ann Magill, a disabled woman, with feedback within the disabled community to refine its visual elements.
If you have wanted to learn more about disability (what does that label really mean?), ableism (how does bias towards disability manifest in academia and my own life?), accessibility (how can I create equitable environments in my lab/classes?), and/or the intersection between disability and Psychology, this EDI Dialogue and Learning series hopes to create opportunities for these conversations.
For all of us in the Department of Psychology, discussions on disability are highly relevant to our work:
- Between 25-48% of UBC undergraduate students identify as disabled, having a disability, or experiencing ongoing health/mental health conditions.
- Despite the high prevalence of disability in undergraduate populations, only ~2% of US Psychology faculty disclose having a disability – suggesting a significant “leaky pipeline” for disability in Psychology higher education (and/or, hesitancy to disclose disability due to stigma).
- Psychology involves the study of the range of human experiences, behaviours, and neurobiology. Yet research suggests that <20% of US Psychology departments offer courses that cover disability beyond psychiatric disorders. What disability representation exists tends to focus on diagnosis and treatment, with little mention of topics such as prejudice and acceptance.
Join us for a two-part series on ‘Disability and Psychology’ this December. Come to one or both sessions, depending on your interests.
PART 2: A Cozy Conversation for Department Members, on “Disability & the Psychology Context.”
Wednesday, December 13, 2:00-3:30 PM
Online via Zoom
Following up on Dr. Gagnon’s visit, here we hope to create a “cozy space” for conversations amongst department members on the intersections between disability, ableism, and Psychology contexts more specifically. We’ll chat about the perspectives on disability common to Psychology as a discipline, and how disability justice work might take place within our classes, labs, and work.
Let’s lean into the vibes of the holiday season: grab a mug of your warming-ist winter drink, and gather ’round on Zoom with our Psychology community for open, reflective conversation. All are welcome: faculty, staff, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students; disabled and non-disabled members.
For anyone interested in furthering additional conversations around disability, ableism, and accessibility in Psychology, join the EDI Community of Practice on Ableism & Disability Inclusion! Regular meetings (held via Zoom) are intended to start again in January 2024. Contact Lily May (lamay@psych.ubc.ca) to be added to the email list.
Resources on disability at UBC/Psychology:
Disability Affinity Group: A collective of disabled folks from both UBC campuses.
Disabilities United Collective: An advocacy and support resource group for disabled students at UBC.
Disability Advocacy and Research Network: A community for disabled psychology scholars and allies.
