Undergraduate creative arts students’ perceptions and attitudes toward disability: Advancing a critical disability studies informed curriculum | Intellect Skip to content
1981
Volume 20, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1474-273X
  • E-ISSN: 2040-0896

Abstract

This study reports on the unanticipated findings of a small-scale, evaluative research project. Further to a pilot iteration, a cohort of undergraduate art students engaged with an immersive, inclusive arts curriculum informed by critical disability studies. Students’ perceptions and attitudes about disability were recorded at the outset and conclusion of the pedagogical project, through a qualitative questionnaire. Thematic analysis was employed to surface patterns in the cohort’s responses at both points in their learning journey. While the findings evidenced the anticipated shift from individualized perspectives about disability to an increasingly social, interactional perspective, the full extent of the medicalized gaze and internalized ableism at the outset of the study was unanticipated. This realization has been influential in developing the pedagogical approach and the framing of the content taught, and has exemplified both the potential and the need to learn about disability, disablement and diversity through art education.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/adch_00036_1
2021-10-01
2024-04-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Baglieri, S., and Lalvani, P.. ( 2019), Undoing Ableism: Teaching about Disability in K-12 Classrooms, London and New York:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Baglieri, S., and Shapiro, A.. ( 2017), Disability Studies and the Inclusive Classroom: Critical Practices for Embracing Diversity in Education, , 2nd ed.., New York:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Baglieri, S.,, Valle, J. W.,, Connor, D. J., and Gallagher, D. J.. ( 2011;), ‘ Disability studies in education: The need for a plurality of perspectives on disability. ’, Remedial and Special Education, 32:4, pp. 26778.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Baker, R.. ( 2012;), ‘ Puppets and objects: Medium and mediator. ’, in J. Krappe,, T. Parkinnen, and A. Tonteri. (eds), Moving In!: Art-Based Approaches to Work with the Youth, MIMO Project 2010–2013, Turku:: Turku University of Applied Sciences;, pp. 10317.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Beckett, A.. ( 2015;), ‘ Anti-oppressive education and disability: Possibilities and challenges. ’, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 17:1, pp. 7694.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Bishop, C.. ( 2012;), ‘ Participation and spectacle: Where are we now?. ’, in N. Thompson. (ed.), Living as Form: Socially Engaged Art from 1991–2011, London:: MIT Press;, pp. 3445.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Braun, V., and Clarke, V.. ( 2006;), ‘ Using thematic analysis in psychology. ’, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3:2, pp. 77101.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Braun, V.,, Clarke, V.,, Hayfield, N., and Terry, G.. ( 2019;), ‘ Phases in doing reflexive thematic analysis. ’, University of Auckland:: Science;, https://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/thematic-analysis.html#fe0e29aab58caef8a1ae830d8e370fb0. Accessed 3 June 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. British Educational Research Association (BERA) ( 2018), Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research, , 4th ed.., London:: BERA;, https://www.bera.ac.uk/publication/ethical-guidelines-for-educational-research-2018-online. Accessed 10 October 2019.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Brown, N., and Leigh, J.. ( 2018;), ‘ Ableism in academia: Where are the disabled and ill academics?. ’, Disability & Society, 33:6, pp. 98589.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Clift, S., and Camic, P.. (eds) ( 2016), Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health and Wellbeing: International Perspectives, Oxford:: Oxford University Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Davies, B., and Pickard, B.. ( [2018] 2019;), ‘ Artistic voices in the Grimms’ Woods: A creative collaboration of inclusive theatre, special education and higher education. ’, Broken Puppet 3 International Symposium, Birmingham, 14–15 April 2018.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Derby, J.. ( 2016;), ‘ Confronting ableism: Disability studies pedagogy in preservice art education. ’, Studies in Art Education: A Journal of Issues and Research, 57:2, pp. 10219.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Dolmage, J. T.. ( 2017), Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education, Ann Arbor, MI:: University of Michigan Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Fox, A., and Macpherson, H.. ( 2015), Inclusive Arts Practice and Research: A Critical Manifesto, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. French, S.. ( 1992;), ‘ Simulation exercises in disability awareness training: A critique. ’, Disability & Society, 7:3, pp. 25766.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Gallagher, D. J., and Skidmore, D.. ( 2006;), ‘ On social class, disability, and discursive spaces: Using dialogical pedagogy to promote inclusive education. ’, Disability Studies in Education Conference, Michigan University, East Lansing, MI, 18–21 May.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Garland Thomson, R.. ( 2005;), ‘ Feminist disability studies. ’, Signs, 30:2, pp. 155787.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Gieben-Gamal, E., and Matos, S.. ( 2017;), ‘ Design and disability: Developing new opportunities for the design curriculum. ’, Design Journal, 20:1, pp. S202232.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Goodley, D.. ( 2012;), ‘ Dis/entangling critical disability studies. ’, Disability & Society, 27:6, pp. 63144, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687599.2012.717884. Accessed 21 July 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Goodley, D.. ( 2014), Dis/ability Studies: Theorising Disablism and Ableism, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Goodley, D.. ( 2017), Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction, , 2nd ed.., London:: Sage;.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Goodley, D.,, Lawthom, R.,, Liddiard, K., and Runswick-Cole, K.. ( 2019;), ‘ Provocations for critical disability studies. ’, Disability & Society, 34:6, pp. 97297.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Greenstein, A.,, Blyth, C.,, Blunt, C.,, Eardley, C.,, Frost, L.,, Hughes, R.,, Perry, B., and Townson, L.. ( 2015;), ‘ Exploring partnership work as a form of transformative education: “You do your yapping and I just add in my stuff”. ’, Disability Studies Quarterly, 35:2, n.pag., https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/4653/3936. Accessed 3 June 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Hadley, S.. ( 2013;), ‘ Dominant narratives: Complicity and the need for vigilance in the creative arts therapies. ’, Arts in Psychotherapy, 40:4, pp. 37381.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Hale, L.,, Van Der Meer, J.,, Rutherford, G.,, Clay, L.,, Janssen, J., and Powell, D.. ( 2013;), ‘ Exploring the integration of disability awareness into tertiary teaching and learning activities. ’, Journal of Education and Learning, 2:1, pp. 14757.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Helguera, P.. ( 2011), Education for Socially Engaged Art: A Materials and Techniques Handbook, New York:: Jorge Pinto Books;.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Hijinx Theatre ( 2020;), ‘ Odyssey. ’, http://www.hijinx.org.uk/odyssey/. Accessed 2 February 2020.
  29. Hopfengart, C.. (ed.) ( 2007), Paul Klee: Hand Puppets, Ostfildern:: Hatje Cantz;.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Hulgin, K. M.,, O’Connor, S.,, Fitch, E. F., and Gutsell, M.. ( 2011;), ‘ Disability studies pedagogy: Engaging dissonance and meaning making. ’, Review of Disability Studies, 7:3&4, pp. 5266.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Iannacci, L.. ( 2018), Reconceptualizing Disability in Education, Lanham, MD:: Lexington Books;.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Keifer-Boyd, K.,, Bastos, F.,, Richardson, J., and Wexler, A.. ( 2018;), ‘ Disability justice: Rethinking “inclusion” in arts education research. ’, Studies in Art Education, 59:3, pp. 26771.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Kumari-Campbell, F. K.. ( 2009), Contours of Ableism: The Production of Disability and Abledness, New York:: Palgrave Macmillan;.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Kumashiro, K.. ( 2000;), ‘ Toward a theory of anti-oppressive education. ’, Review of Educational Research, 70:1, pp. 2553.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Kuppers, P.. ( 2014), Studying Disability Arts and Culture: An Introduction, New York:: Palgrave Macmillan;.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Laes, T., and Westerlund, H.. ( 2018;), ‘ Performing disability in music teacher education: Moving beyond inclusion through expanded professionalism. ’, International Journal of Music Education, 36:1, pp. 3446.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Liddiard, K.. ( 2018), The Intimate Lives of Disabled People, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Mallett, R., and Runswick-Cole, K.. ( 2014), Approaching Disability: Critical Issues and Perspectives, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Matarasso, F.. ( 2019), A Restless Art: How Participation Won and Why It Matters, Lisbon and London:: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation;, https://arestlessart.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/2019-a-restless-art.pdf. Accessed 21 July 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Matthews, N.. ( 2010;), ‘ Anxiety and niceness: Drawing disability studies into the art and design curriculum through a live brief. ’, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 31:4, pp. 52741.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. McDonagh, D.. ( 2015;), ‘ Design students foreseeing the unforeseeable: Practice-based empathic research methods. ’, International Journal of Education through Art, 11:3, pp. 42131.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Moore, M., and Slee, R.. ( 2020;), ‘ Disability studies, inclusive education and exclusion. ’, in N. Watson, and S. Vehmas. (eds), Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies, , 2nd ed.., London:: Routledge;, pp. 26580.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Osborne, F.,, Luby, E. M., and Fogarty, C.. ( 2014;), ‘ An accessibility adventure: Teaching and learning exhibition design through the lens of disability studies. ’, Exhibitionist, 33, Fall, pp. 5963.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Patel, C.. ( 2018), An Analysis of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger’s Situated Learning, Legitimate Peripheral Participation, London:: Macat International;.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Penketh, C.. ( 2014;), ‘ Putting disability studies to work in art education. ’, International Journal of Art & Design Education, 33:3, pp. 291300.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Penketh, C.. ( 2016;), ‘ Creative subjects? Critically documenting art education and disability. ’, in D. Bolt. (ed.), Changing Social Attitudes toward Disability: Perspectives from Historical, Cultural, and Educational Studies, Oxford:: Routledge;, pp. 13241.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Penketh, C.. ( 2020;), ‘ Towards a vital pedagogy: Learning from anti-ableist practice in art education. ’, International Journal of Education through Art, 16:1, pp. 1327.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Pickard, B.. ( 2019;), ‘ The process, challenges and opportunities of developing a curriculum in a creative and therapeutic arts undergraduate degree programme. ’, International Journal of Art and Design Education, 39:1, pp. 98112.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Pickard, B.. ( 2020;), ‘ Challenging deficit-based discourse in higher education through a social connection model of responsibility: A critical disability studies perspective. ’, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd:: University of South Wales;.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Pickard, B.. ( forthcoming;), ‘ The importance of collaboration: Valuing the expertise of disabled people through social confluence. ’, in H. King. (ed.), Exploring Expertise in Teaching in Higher Education, SEDA and Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Saltes, N.. ( 2020;), ‘ “It’s all about student accessibility. No one ever talks about teacher accessibility”: Examining ableist expectations in academia. ’, International Journal of Inclusive Education, article first , https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1712483. Accessed 21 July 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Shakespeare, T.. ( 2013), Disability Rights, Disability Wrongs Revisited, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Shakespeare, T., and Watson, N.. ( 2001;), ‘ Making the difference: Disability, politics, recognition. ’, in G. Albrecht,, K. D. Seelman, and M. Bury. (eds), Handbook of Disability Studies, London:: Sage;, pp. 54664.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Shilldrick, M.. ( 2020;), ‘ Critical disability studies: Rethinking the conventions for the age of postmodernity. ’, in N. Watson, and S. Vehmas. (eds), Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies, , 2nd ed.., London:: Routledge;, pp. 3244.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Smith, M.. ( 2009;), ‘ Puppetry as community arts practice. ’, Journal of Arts and Communities, 1:1, pp. 6978.
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Solvang, P. K.. ( 2018;), ‘ Between art therapy and disability aesthetics: A sociological approach for understanding the intersection between art practice and disability discourse. ’, Disability & Society, 33:2, pp. 23853.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Stuart, O.. ( 1993;), ‘ Double oppression: An alternative starting point. ’, in J. Swain,, V. Finkelstein,, S. French, and M. Oliver. (eds), Disabling Barriers: Enabling Environments, London:: Sage;, pp. 10106.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Swindells, R.,, Lawthom, R.,, Parkinson, C.,, Clennon, O.,, Kagan, C., and de Bézenac, C.. ( 2016;), ‘ “I’m not a therapist you know … I’m an artist”: Facilitating wellbeing and basic psychological needs satisfaction through community arts participation. ’, Journal of Applied Arts & Health, 7:3, pp. 34767.
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Treby, E.,, Hewitt, I., and Shah, A.. ( 2006;), ‘ Embedding “disability and access” into the geography curriculum. ’, Teaching in Higher Education, 11:4, pp. 41325.
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Wexler, A., and Luethi-Garrecht, A.. ( 2015;), ‘ Beyond accommodations: Designing for nonverbal/nonauditory learners in the inclusive art room. ’, Art Education, 68:2, pp. 1421.
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Young, I. M.. ( 1990), Justice and the Politics of Difference, Princeton, NJ:: Princeton University Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Young, I. M.. ( 2006;), ‘ Responsibility and global justice: A social connection model. ’, Social Philosophy and Policy, 23:1, pp. 10230.
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Yuker, H. E.,, Block, J. R., and Younng, J. H.. ( 1970;), ‘ The measurement of attitudes toward disabled persons. ’, ERIC;, https://eric.ed.gov/?q=The+measurement+of+attitudes+toward+disabled+persons&id=ED044853. Accessed 21 July 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  64. Pickard, Beth. ( 2021;), ‘ Undergraduate creative arts students’ perceptions and attitudes toward disability: Advancing a critical disability studies informed curriculum. ’, Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 20:2, pp. 14161, https://doi.org/10.1386/adch_00036_1
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/adch_00036_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/adch_00036_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error