Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Making Academia More Accessible

Brown, Nicole, Thompson, Paul, Leigh, Jennifer S (2018) Making Academia More Accessible. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 6 (2). ISSN 2051-9788. E-ISSN 2051-9788. (doi:10.14297/jpaap.v6i2.348) (KAR id:68917)

Abstract

Academia can be a challenging place to work and academics who have a disability, neurodiversity or chronic illness are further disadvantaged, as non-stereotypical ways of working are not necessarily supported or catered for. The remit of this paper is to provide practical ideas and recommendations to address accessibility issues in events and conferences as a first step to improving existing working conditions. We start with providing a brief overview of and background to the issues of ableism, disabilities, chronic illnesses and neurodiversities in academia. We then offer a detailed description of the organisational and developmental strategies relating to the Ableism in Academia conference to practically demonstrate how accessibility can be achieved. Despite vast literature available on theorisations of reasonable adjustments and some individual handbooks on conference accessibility, noted the absence of a systematic write-up of a case study that would demonstrate the thought processes required for the organisation of a fully accessible and inclusive event. This paper provides almost a step-by-step rationale and rundown of the decisions that had to be taken in order to facilitate an accessible event. After a brief consideration of challenges we encountered along the way, we share personal reflections regarding the event and future developments.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.14297/jpaap.v6i2.348
Uncontrolled keywords: ableism, inclusive education, accessibility, disability, conference
Subjects: L Education
Divisions: Divisions > Directorate of Education > Centre for the Study of Higher Education
Depositing User: Jennifer Leigh
Date Deposited: 04 Sep 2018 10:06 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 04:22 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/68917 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.