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I've been trying to express why universities, like many other institutions, are struggling so mightily with their responses to the pandemic.
Maybe it's because people are collectivley experiencing a condition which disabled people are all too familiar with. (thread)
Maybe it's because people are collectivley experiencing a condition which disabled people are all too familiar with. (thread)
1. The general response from institutions of higher ed. and their professorate right now is "well, we're going to do things a differently, but overall more poorly, right now so that we can at least get through this" or "we're doing the best we can, under the circumstances."
2. So many in higher education are now in a position where they have to figure out alternative solutions and workarounds to problems they never anticipated. They have to plan in advance and do more research to accomplish simple tasks like interacting with students or colleagues.
3. They're negotiating a loss of independence and working and living in less than ideal circumstances. They are trying to do the right things, the right ways, and still getting it wrong. Then bearing the brunt of others' indignation when they've gotten it wrong.
4. They're trying to do things as close to "normal" as possible. And it's not about being unfamiliar with technology. The technology existed. Course delivery is course delivery. Communication is communication. Shifting modalities necessitate shifting foci, not despair.
5. Expectations for productivity and individual ability to attend scheduled events are shifting. These circumstances are simulating a collective alienation from
"normalcy." And that, my friends, is what disabled people do every single day. Especially in higher education.
"normalcy." And that, my friends, is what disabled people do every single day. Especially in higher education.
6. You can't easily accomplish the task you wanted to, or had to go through a bunch of extra steps to get to the same result?
You can't access materials you need to teach or do your research due to some structural or environmental barrier?
You can't access materials you need to teach or do your research due to some structural or environmental barrier?
7. I always say that not all issues are about the politics of disability but the politics of disability informs all issues.
Suddenly, very smart and capable people are failing due to unforseeable events outside of their control. And they are FREAKING OUT about it.
Suddenly, very smart and capable people are failing due to unforseeable events outside of their control. And they are FREAKING OUT about it.
8. That moment. That unknown. That feeling that you don't have control and that you'll need to simply figure it out. That's what physical, social, and environmental barriers feel like for disabled people every day.
9. And while disabled people are still experiencing vast inequity in the online classroom, this collective, disabling experience should teach us something important about just how precarious "normal" is and how many are ill-equipped to not have things operate the way they should.
10. I'm not suggesting we should all be thriving while working for Zoom University. And I don't want to trivialize the trauma of what's happening right now. But this IS daily life. This is a small glimpse into the everyday life of disabled people and the politics of disability.
