Cultivating Disability Leadership: Implementing a Methodology of Access to Transform Community-based Learning

Authors

  • Fady Shanouda School of Health Sciences, City, University of London
  • Michelle Duncanson Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto
  • Alanna Smyth Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario
  • Mah-E-Leqa Jadgal Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario
  • Maureen O'Neill Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario
  • Karen K. Yoshida Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v9i5.702

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a methodology of access developed and applied during a three-year project in the Niagara region focused on cultivating the next generation of disability leaders. We describe the theoretical approach to the project and highlight the significance of doing this work in Niagara. A literature review of adult, transformative, and community-based learning scholarship revealed that little research or writing has focused on describing a thorough approach to access in transformative projects in community-based settings. Writing with two participants from the study, we elaborate on the five dimensions of our approach: 1) funding; 2) local and focused; 3) intimate, relational, and interdependent; 4) curating access, and 5) welcoming disruption. We also describe the tensions in taking on this work. We conclude with an invitation to scholars, community groups, and organizations to consider integrating our methodology in their next research project.

Author Biographies

Fady Shanouda, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London

School of Health Sciences, City, University of London

Michelle Duncanson, Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto

Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto

Alanna Smyth, Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Mah-E-Leqa Jadgal, Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Maureen O'Neill, Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Niagara Centre for Independent Living, St. Catharines, Ontario

Karen K. Yoshida, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

Downloads

Published

2020-12-20

How to Cite

Shanouda, F., Duncanson, M., Smyth, A., Jadgal, M.-E.-L., O’Neill, M., & Yoshida, K. K. (2020). Cultivating Disability Leadership: Implementing a Methodology of Access to Transform Community-based Learning. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 9(5), 380–413. https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v9i5.702

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 5 (2020): Disability Studies in Education—Critical Conversations

Section

Articles

License

There are no article processing or submission charges for CJDS authors.

Author(s) are not required to assign their copyright in and to their article to the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies. Instead, The CJDS asks for one-time rights to print this original work.

All articles in the journal are assigned a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.

Authors are asked to contact the journal Editor if they wish to post the article on any website; translate or authorize a translation of the article; copy or otherwise reproduce the article, in any format, beyond what is permitted under Canadian copyright law, or authorize others to do so; copy or otherwise reproduce portions of the article, including tables and figures, beyond what is permitted under Canadian copyright law, or authorize others to do so.

Contacting the Editor will simply allow us to track the use and distribution of your article.  We encourage use for non-commercial, educational purposes. 

Authors must provide proof of permission clearance prior to the publication of their work if they are including images or other materials that are not their own.  Keep in mind that such clearance can at times be costly, and often takes time.  The journal editor can often work with you to seek permissions if you need information, advice or assistance.