ONGOING

University of Iowa Certificate in Disability Studies 
The undergraduate Certificate in Disability Studies requires a minimum of 19 s.h. of credit. The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not concurrently enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 in work for the certificate. View coursework requirements.

SPRING 2019

“Sounding the Feeble Mind: Eugenic Depictions of Feeble-mindedness on Screen and in Music” with Andrew Tubbs
Tuesday, March 26 | 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library, Room A

This talk, through a discussion of the character Jud Fry of Oklahoma! (1955), will ask the question, what does the “feeble mind” sound like, and how do composers use music to communicate a character’s disability to an audience?
Co-sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa City Public Library
WATCH THE VIDEO

Local Disabilities Initiatives: An Obermann Conversation
Wednesday, March 27 | 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
In this Obermann Conversation, we’ll hear from activists representing various organizations about current projects that support, amplify, and advocate for people with disabilities. Tammy Nyden gives an overview of the work of the Johnson County Children’s Coalition, a project of our local NAMI; Michael Hoenig shares the disability training offered to UI health sciences students; Janet Schlapkohl (Founder and Executive Director of Combined Efforts) describes the work of Combined Efforts’ multi-arts projects; Sujit Singh will talk about a local television show devoted to disability awareness; and Mary Helen Kennerly will provide context for the new Seen & Heard project.
Free and open to all.
WATCH THE VIDEO

“Life of Tti ka mi ge a” with Sarah Young Bear-Brown
Tuesday, April 2 | 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
Sarah Young Bear will discuss her experience as a deaf member of the Meskwaki nation and mother of two hearing-challenged children.
Co-sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa City Public Library
WATCH THE VIDEO

Hawkeye Service Team Presents “Social Justice in Conversation: Disability Rights”
Wednesday, April 3 | 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Iowa Memorial Union, Room 337
Please join the Hawkeye Service Team for an open dialogue about the intersection of disability and social justice. The panel will explore the social inequities surrounding disability rights and the impact on individuals in our community.
Free and open to all.

Graduate Seminar
Title: Misfitting, Disability Broadly Considered

GRAD:7280
Course Instructors: Douglas Baynton & Tricia Zebrowski

In this 1-hour readings course, we will read, consider, and discuss recent work by six of the leading scholars in disability studies in the humanities. Thus prepared for informed participation, we will meet and listen to the scholars in person at the Obermann Humanities Symposium, “Misfitting: Disability Broadly Considered,” to be held at the University of Iowa, April 4-6, 2019. Finally, we will convene once more to critically discuss disability studies in light of what we learned at the symposium.

The course entails three meetings prior to the symposium, engaged participation in the symposium, and one follow-up meeting. Readings will range across various disciplines, including English literature, music, gender studies, rhetoric, anthropology, history, and bioethics. Written assignments will include proposed discussion questions for the symposium speakers and brief reflections afterward.

The course will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 on March 13, March 27, April 3, and April 10. Participation in the symposium is required.

FALL 2018

Course
Title: Disability and Inclusion
GHS:1200:0001
Course instructor: Waltraud Maierhofer

Exploration of human experiences of dis/ability and exclusion/inclusion as represented in recent international film and popular writing from Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; how these experiences contribute to and reflect awareness of the challenges of disabilities as well as public policy; strategies that filmmakers and authors deploy to contain, complicate, and challenge cultural preconceptions of the disabled body; how disability intersects with other major identity categories (i.e., sexuality, nationality, race); tools for researching history, policy, and activism.

October 30, 6:30 pm

YouTuber & Deaf Advocate Rikki Poynter
Event takes place in Petersen Residence Hall Multipurpose Room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event starts at 7:00.

Rikki Poynter is a deaf YouTuber, content creator, and accessibility advocate. She will be speaking on her life growing up as a mainstreamed deaf person, how she came to discover and navigate Deaf culture, her journey in learning ASL (American Sign Language), and the importance of accessibility. Rikki will also share how these experiences have sparked her passion for advocacy and awareness around audism and ableism, which prompted the creation of her recent #NoMoreCRAPtions video captioning campaign. She has been featured on the Huffington Post, Mic News, Upworthy, ABC News, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Ouch, and BBC See Hear, among others. This event is sponsored by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership and University of Iowa Student Government. Accessibility Note: ASL interpreters will be provided for this event. The room is also equipped with a hearing loop for use by individuals with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1803557959761591/ for more information.

October 25, 6:00–9:00 pm
Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story Film Screening 

Click here for Facebook Event Page

October 23, 10:00–11:30 am
Writing Disability Simulations and Technology Feature Matching for Reading Accommodations

During this workshop, participants will engage in writing disability simulations. They will then be presented with assistive technology options for writing accommodations by using feature matching.

October 18, 4:30–6:00 pm
Reading Disability Simulations and Technology Feature Matching for Reading Accommodations
During this workshop, participants will engage in reading disability simulations. They will then be presented with assistive technology options for reading accommodations by using feature matching.

October 16, 6:00–8:00 pm
My Eyes Film Screening 

Click here for Facebook Event Page!

October 11–13
Disabled & Proud Online Conference
Join UISDAA for the 2018 Disabled & Proud Online Conference, sponsored by the University of Iowa Council on Disability Awareness. View Facebook Event Page.

October 9, 1:00–2:30 pm
Disability Simulation and Technology Feature Matching Accommodations 

During this workshop, participants will engage in speech and language disability simulations. They will then be presented with assistive technology options for speech and language accommodations by using feature matching.