TY - JOUR
T1 - Undergraduate Creative Arts Students' Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Disability: Advancing a Critical Disability Studies Informed Curriculum
AU - Pickard, Beth
PY - 2021/11/9
Y1 - 2021/11/9
N2 - 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 individualised perspectives about disability to an increasingly social, interactional perspective, the full extent of the medicalised gaze and internalised ableism at the outset of the study was unanticipated. This realisation 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.
AB - 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 individualised perspectives about disability to an increasingly social, interactional perspective, the full extent of the medicalised gaze and internalised ableism at the outset of the study was unanticipated. This realisation 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.
KW - inclusive arts
KW - pedagogy
KW - disability
KW - higher education
KW - participatory arts
KW - anti-oppressive education
KW - consciousness raising
U2 - 10.1386/adch_00036_1
DO - 10.1386/adch_00036_1
M3 - Article
SN - 2040-0896
VL - 20
JO - Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education
JF - Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education
IS - 2
ER -