Nothing About us Without us: Self-Advocacy and Neurodiversity in Research and Education
60 min presentation which includes 2 rounds of conversation with the attendees plus introductions and a closing circle.
A rallying cry of disability rights advocates since at least the 1990s, the sentiments behind “nothing about us without us” reflect the core of many liberatory movements. This talk builds on the work of Grant Bruno from the Maskwacis Cultural College Microlearning Series (March 14, 2022) to explore the relationship between decolonizing research and education and challenging their neuroantagonistic and ableist roots (an act Dr. Nick Walker describes as neuroqueering). It will also introduce participants to core concepts and issues in the neurodiversity and disability rights movement from Jim Sinclair's “Don't Mourn for Us” to Dr. Devon Price’s Unmasking Autism and reflect on the influence of neurodiversity advocates and community builders within digital spaces. How do we make research and educational systems serve our communities when historically they have mainly worked to normalize and standardize us in order to serve the ends of colonial nations states? How can we better co-create knowledge for the sake of our communities and secure systems of knowledge sovereignty that are not extractive or oppressive? I cannot answer these questions, but hopefully, together, someday we will.
Presenter:
Dr. Ben Mitchell is a librarian, educator, and researcher with a background in the history of science and medicine. They have been a curator involved in the public history of mental health and neurodivergence and have delivered talks and programming on topics related to neurodiversity and information literacy at numerous conferences and events, including as an invited speaker at the Waterloo Public Library and as part of CAPAL’s Diversity & Equity Committee. They are also the organizer of the Neuro-GLAM-erous Discord server and annual conference for neurodivergent gallery, library, archives, and museum (GLAM) workers.
Cost: Free
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/aviPnHbTgtbFZEid7
This is part of the Maskwacis Cultural College Microlearning Series and is open to the public.
Contact Manisha Khetarpal by email mkhetarpal@mccedu.ca or call toll free: 1 866 585 3925