Chapter 9: Ableism

Ben-Moshe, L. (2014). Disability incarcerated: Imprisonment and disability in the United States and Canada. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Brune, J. A., & Wilson, D. J. (2013). Disability and passing: Blurring the lines of identity.

Burch, S., & Rembis, M. (2014). Disability histories. Urbana, Chicago, & Springfield, IL: University of Illinois Press.

Connor, D., Valle, J., & Hale, C. (Eds.) (2015). Practicing disability studies in education: Acting toward social change. New York: Peter Lang.

Davis, L. (2013). The disability studies reader. New York: Routledge.

Dudley-Marling, C., & Gurn, A. (Eds.) (2010). The myth of the normal curve. New York: Peter Lang.

Ellis, K., & Goggin, G. (2015). Disability and the media. New York: Palgrave Macmillan

Hall, K. Q. (2011). Feminist disability studies. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Harry, B., & Klinger, J. (2014). Why are so many minority students in special education? Understanding race and disability in schools. New York: Teachers College Press.

Henderson, G., & Bryan, W. V. (2011). Psychosocial aspects of disability. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Accessibility note: Films shown in educational settings should be captioned to provide fuller access for participants with hearing impairments and some learning disabilities, and for English language learners. If the film you wish to show is not already captioned, there are several options:

In university settings, many disabilities services offices can provide captioning given enough advance notice.

For short clips, try uploading the clip to YouTube and using the automatic captioning function (you may need to correct some errors).

Amara offers an online platform where you can add your own captions to videos: https://amara.org/

Lost in Laconia (2010). DuBois, G., Rogers, B., Rogers, S., 1L Media (Firm), & Community Support Network.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UesOm2HTm2I

Documentary on the conditions in Laconia State Hospital, a residential facility for people with disabilities in New Hampshire.

Self-Advocacy History Channel on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/selfadvocacyhistory

Various first-person accounts of disability and independence.

In university settings, many disabilities services offices can provide captioning given enough advance notice.

For short clips, try uploading the clip to YouTube and using the automatic captioning function (you may need to correct some errors).

Amara offers an online platform where you can add your own captions to videos: https://amara.org/

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement

http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/eugenics/

A “virtual exhibit” featuring text, photographs and archival documents related to the history of eugenics in the U.S.

I Can’t Do This But I CAN Do That (2010). Does having a learning disability mean that you can’t learn? Eight children prove that the answer is a definitive “No” in this HBO Family documentary that takes an enlightening look at young people with a wide spectrum of learning differences. Interviews with kids and parents are intercut with scenes of the children engaged in activities that reflect their talents—painting, poetry, etc. This 30-minute documentary takes an enlightening look at young people with a wide spectrum of learning differences; it offers a compelling portrait of the ways in which these children are able to compensate by using their strengths to overcome their challenges. From the Executive Producer, Sheila Nevins, and the director and producer, Ellen Goosenberg Kent of “I Have Tourette’s but Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me,” this documentary is an inspiring account of children with learning differences who have discovered real abilities, and have learned to use their strengths to overcome their learning struggles.

Normal People Scare Me (2006).A documentary film about autism, produced by Joey Travolta, older brother of actor John Travolta. The documentary initially began as a ten-minute short film co-directed by an autistic teenager named Taylor Cross and his mother, Keri Bowers. Joey Travolta first met Cross at a program Travolta led teaching the art of filmmaking to children with special needs. He helped educate Cross about filmmaking, and the documentary was expanded into a feature-length film. It includes interviews with 65 people, including those who are autistic as well as friends and family. Cross asks them about their experiences with autism and how they feel about it, and elicits multiple insightful responses from his subjects.

Educating Peter (1992). Academy Award, Best Documentary Short. Peter Gwazdauska has Down Syndrome, and until this year he attended classes with children like himself. Educating Peter is the story of Peter’s first year in a regular classroom with normal children. The first week of classes in Mrs. Stallings’ third-grade class is probably the most harrowing in the lives of many of these children. However, after many tribulations and a great deal of planning, Mrs. Stallings, her students, and Peter grow to accept, trust, and learn from each other. “You think that you’re teaching Peter things, but really Peter’s teaching you things. We might be teaching him stuff like how to do things, but he’s teaching us more how to think and how to react to other problems,” said Jill Fox, a classmate of Peter’s. This documentary is about the changes that take place over the course of the school year, as Peter, his classmates, and the teacher learn lessons that go far beyond their academic subjects.

A Little History Worth Knowing (1998). Irene M. Ward & Associates. Available from Irene M. Ward & Associates, Columbus, Ohio.

Sins Invalid. “Sins Invalid witnesses a performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralizing artists of color and queer and gender-variant artists.” Captioned with study guide. Available from http://newday.com/film/sins-invalid

When Billy Broke His Head and Other Tales of Wonder (1994).Golfus, B., & Simpson, D. E. Available from Fanlight Productions, 4196 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02131; 800-937-4113; www.fanlight.com

Vital signs: Crip Culture Talks Back (1997). Mitchell, D. T., & Snyder, S. Available from Fanlight Productions, 4196 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02131; 800-937-4113; www.fanlight.com