CFP: Canadian Disability Studies Association 7th Annual Conference

Canadian Disability Studies Association 7th Annual Conference
June 2, 3, and 4, 2010
Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

Call for Presentation Proposals

CDSA-ACEI hosts its seventh annual conference, June 2, 3, and 4, 2010, at Concordia University in Montreal in conjunction with the annual Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Theme:

The Congress 2010 theme is "Connected Understanding/Le savoir branché." Connected understanding speaks to scholarly activity in Disability Studies from two perspectives. First, it refers to the impact of the rise of digital technology on our scholarly research and research-creation. New technology has provided Disability Studies scholars with different research tools, access to new sources and new means of communicating their research results to colleagues and the wider public. In many cases, these new tools have transformed how Disability Studies scholars understand problems. Second, the idea of connected understanding speaks to the links that Disability Studies scholars make with their colleagues in other fields and with larger audiences beyond the academic world. Here, too, technology has enhanced the ability of individuals outside the academy to respond to, and challenge the authority of Disability Studies scholars. These connections have added new voices to the discussion of many issues and complicated our understanding of them.

Digital technology has been a boon to people with disabilities, providing access to a world that was often inaccessible or difficult to navigate, but in turn has changed connections between people. People in the same department or at the same campus that would meet in person to discuss things instead communicate by email, voicemail, or text messages. People that would travel to other cities to conferences to present papers and network instead Skype, video/teleconference, or podcast. We may be connected and understanding by using digital technology, but are we really connecting with each other?

In keeping with the Congress theme for 2010 "Connected Understanding/Le savoir branché" CDSA-ACEI is interested in the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research and the importance of connecting the academic world with users of knowledge from all sectors. To connect Disability Studies scholars with scholars in different fields, to connect the discipline of Disability Studies with other academic disciplines, and to connect Disability Studies scholars with public audiences beyond academe.

Topics:

The mandate of CDSA-ACEI is to support and encourage global research on disability within a social-cultural-political paradigm, with a special interest in Canadian research and work. CDSA-ACEI invites presentation proposals from a broad range of disciplines and projects, from all established and emerging areas of research, that embrace unconventional topics or ways of research, or bring together scholars at different stages of their careers. While prospective presenters are invited to address the Congress theme, presentation proposals that depart from that theme are welcomed.

CDSA-ACEI encourages and welcomes undergraduate and graduate students to submit presentation proposals. Up to eight exemplary and inspirational student presenters will receive conference subsidies. Contact cdsa.acei@gmail.com for details.

Some possible topics for “Connected Understanding” could be:

* Challenges and issues for children, youth, and the elderly with disabilities
* Higher education issues for students and faculty with disabilities
* Portrayal of people with disabilities in the mass media, the arts, theatre, music, film, and literature
* Thinking beyond the “dis” in disability and Disability Studies
* Artists, writers, actors, or musicians with disabilities
* Employment and housing issues for people with disabilities
* Global migrations and identities for people with disabilities
* Technology advancements in the workplace, at school, and at home for people with disabilities
* Quality of life & bioethics issues for people with disabilities
* Healthcare and health literacy issues for people with disabilities
* Public, legal, and government policy issues for people with disabilities
* LGBTQ community within the disability community
* Sexual health of people with disabilities
* First Nations Peoples with disabilities
* Cultural / religious / ethnic views about people with disabilities
* Accessibility of social media
* Making “invisible” disabilities “visible”
* Accessibility of public spaces (i.e., parks, recreation areas, libraries, community centres)
* Issues for military veterans/personnel with disabilities
* Histories of people with disabilities
* Disability rights & advocacy
* Philosophical approaches about people with disabilities
* Body image & identity for people with disabilities
* Feminist approaches about people with disabilities
* Leisure/competitive sports & physical fitness for people with disabilities
* Theories & research methodologies in Disability Studies

Types of Presentations:

Submissions for the CDSA-ACEI conference may be one of four types. Each presentation block is 90 minutes (includes presenter changeover time and audience discussions).

1. Paper: This format includes individual presentations of works in progress, completed studies, “special” or “major” papers, or short scholarly papers. A paper presentation block will consist of three presenters and involve a discussant/chair to moderate the presenters and audience in the allocated 90-minute presentation block.

2. Panel: This format includes panels, workshops, symposiums, performances, recitals, and seminars. This provides opportunities to present diverse or conflicting perspectives that inspire deliberation on a compelling topic or issue that is or should be of concern to disability studies researchers. The organizer of the panel is responsible for setting the topic and number of presenters and moderates the presenters and audience in the allocated 90-minute presentation block.

3. Roundtable: This format includes informal discussions about particular research issues, books (already published or in progress), work that is at an early stage of conceptualization, research proposals, or the body of work of an individual/group. The organizer of the roundtable is responsible for setting the topic and number of presenters and moderates the presenters and audience in the allocated 90-minute presentation block.

4. Joint Session: This format is intended to highlight disability research and scholarly work that is interdisciplinary and collaborative in nature. It is organised and scheduled in conjunction with another CFHSS association and may involve a discussant/chair to moderate the presenters and audience in the allocated 90-minute presentation block.

Special Note: In acknowledgement of the date conflicts with the Society for Disability Studies’ 2010 conference, CDSA-ACEI will endeavour, depending on funding and available technical resources, to provide some opportunities for joint live presentations between the two associations. Contact cdsa.acei@gmail.com for details.

Submitting Proposals:

To submit a presentation proposal for the 2010 CDSA-ACEI conference, please send the following two components via email attachment. Presentation proposals should be emailed to cdsa.acei@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is 4:00pm EST on December 4, 2009.

1. Presentation Submission Form (MS Word only): Fill out the pertaining information in the form for each presenter.

2. Presentation Proposal: On a separate page, place the title of the presentation at the top of the page. Then using between 300 and 500 words describe the presentation. Ensure no author/presenter names or institutional affiliations appear in the proposal. Allow 1" (2.5 cm) margins and use 12 pt. type, preferably in Times New Roman and using Microsoft Word. Citations acceptable, but not required. The proposal should summarize such factors as objectives, perspectives, theoretical framework, methods/techniques of investigation, data sources, results, conclusions, anticipated outcomes, educational significance, policy and/or practice implications, and any other information that will clarify the topic and delivery of the proposed presentation.

If you are submitting a presentation proposal for a Panel, Roundtable, or Joint Session, include both a 300 to 500 words proposal for the Panel, Roundtable, or Joint Session and a 300 to 500 words proposal for each presenter in the Panel, Roundtable, or Joint Session.

Important Notes:

Multiple presentations are not permitted. However, a presenter is permitted to do a paper/panel/joint session presentation and participate in a roundtable presentation.

In case of scheduling difficulties, CDSA-ACEI reserves the right to break up panels if necessary.

CDSA-ACEI cannot guarantee all requests for audio-visual or technical equipment. CDSA-ACEI reserves the right to charge for audio-visual or technical equipment demands beyond those provided by Congress.

CDSA-ACEI guarantees all presentation rooms are wheelchair-accessible. CDSA-ACEI cannot guarantee all requests for accessibility services, and reserves the right to charge for accessibility services demands beyond CDSA-ACEI’s financial abilities.