In this course different theoretical approaches, themes and research areas of Disability Studies will be discussed.

The traditional individualized vision of disability is ordinarily conntected with ideas of deficit and incongruity. One counterposition is developed in the inter- and transdisciplinary research area of Disability Studies. Arising in Great Britian and USA within the context of the Independent Living Movement, Disability Studies want to rearticulate Disability as a social and cultural phenomenon. Because of that, at the foreground there are questions about sociocultural processes of construction on disability. As a critical and emancipatory approach, Disability Studies have the intention to promote social and cultural change for disabled people. With regard to this, fields of practice and inquiries will discussed as well.

Keypoints of the course are: body, identity, crip-movement, gender, intersectionality, participartory research, models of disability, representation, queer theory, social sciences, humanities and the sciences.

Lecture, film clips, discussions 

Written exam at the end of the semester.

Simi Linton: Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity (Cultural Front). New York Univ Pr.