by Aliza Greenberg, Adjunct Lecturer
Throughout the semester, the students in Inclusive Practices for the Arts participate in “Current Events.” Oft-relegated to elementary school classrooms, this practice of bringing in timely articles related to our class material is a wonderful way to hear student voices. Students share why they connected with the articles they bring and we are able to hear a multitude of perspectives and the course material is driven by all of us. Arts, disability, and education are fields that are always changing. With this practice, we can keep on the pulse of conversations related to our course material. The syllabus provides a foundation but the articles that the students have brought in broadens and deepens the conversation and thus our collective learning. Here are some of the articles we have discussed so far this semester:
“Vessel Adds Elevator for People with Disabilities After Deal With US Attorney of New York” by Hakim Bishara
“Fighting the Art World’s Ableism” by Emily Sara
“How bans on mask mandates affect students with disabilities – 4 questions answered” by Claire Raj
“Researchers develop ‘robo-cane’ that may improve navigation for the blind” by Amy Norton
“When the world doesn’t fit.” by Your Fat Friend
“‘Inspiration Porn’: Paralympians Know It When They See It” by Gwen Knapp
“Jillian Mercado on ‘Generation Q’ and the Importance of Joyful Stories” by Julia Carmel
“Black Girls With Disabilities Are Disproportionately Criminalized” by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Dr. Subini Ancy Annamma, and Vilissa Thompson
“Outdoors for all: How national parks are addressing accessibility challenges” by Alexandra Charitan
“Parents of Students With Disabilities Try to Make Up for Lost Year” by Amanda Morris
“Alabama Seeks Execution of Another Person with Intellectual Disability” by the Equal Justice Initiative
“Alabama Executes Willie Smith” by the Equal Justice Initiative
“‘My Human Rights are Being Violated’: Fighting a Family Conservatorship” by Katie J. M. Baker and Heidi Blake
Inclusive Practices for the Arts also took our in person class to the High Line. The High Line is a space filled with art among a very artfully designed city park. Students created short activities to engage the class with different artworks along the High Line and facilitated those activities with the group. It was a wonderful way for us to build community, experience art together, and learn about and practice inclusive teaching.
