Following my convocation from Sheridan College, I enrolled in the School of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University and ultimately it was one of the most amazing decisions I've ever made. My journey began when I first began the introductory course of the program: DST 501 - Rethinking Disability with Dr. Esther Ignagni. I was quite anxious at the beginning of the journey, but gradually throughout the next few years, I have developed a lot of wonderful relationships with my instructors, alumni, graduates and new friends. I even met a lot of kind-hearted disability-identified staff at Tangled Art + Disability! Everyone in my program is the most super kind-hearted, compassionate, caring, sweet, supportive, accessible, friendly, empathetic, and wonderful people. Both the program and Tangled Art are like another family to me. Family is forever.
The Disability Issues course from my previous program gave me a fantastic jump-start to my current program knowing that it was an introductory course to Disability Studies. While the course first introduced me to the models, theories and issues (ex. social/medical model, ableism, MAiD, sterilization act), Disability Studies further introduced me to disability justice, crip theory/epistemologies, austerity, disability art, intersectionality, disability rights, cultural tropes (ex. supercrip), interventions, relaxed performance spaces, colonialism, decolonization, sanism, disability pride, capitalism, neoliberalism, research methodologies, consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement, feminist interventions, Mad studies, normalcy and inclusive education, etc.
The Disability Issues course from my previous program gave me a fantastic jump-start to my current program knowing that it was an introductory course to Disability Studies. While the course first introduced me to the models, theories and issues (ex. social/medical model, ableism, MAiD, sterilization act), Disability Studies further introduced me to disability justice, crip theory/epistemologies, austerity, disability art, intersectionality, disability rights, cultural tropes (ex. supercrip), interventions, relaxed performance spaces, colonialism, decolonization, sanism, disability pride, capitalism, neoliberalism, research methodologies, consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement, feminist interventions, Mad studies, normalcy and inclusive education, etc.