Theorizing Disability
Disability Studies · 3 hrs Lecture
Offered: Winter Only, Every Year
One shot a year. Offered winter term only, so a clash costs a full year.
DIS-2100 prerequisites
3 courses appear in this chain, up to 1 level deep. Every route through it involves a choice, so nothing is forced.
Show the chainHide the chain
any one of
Add your completed courses to see which of these you've already done and what you could take next. They stay on this device.
Where DIS-2100 counts
Required by 4 programs:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 71 of 141 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
Prior to the 1970s, the concept of disability was centered on individual impairments and people with disabilities were "othered" because of their difference from ableist norms. Over the last three decades, disability activists and theorists have sought to shift the focus from a medical model to a social model. Within the social model, external obstacles are regarded as disabling, rather than non-conformist bodies. This move has had a powerful impact on a disability theorization and political action. The social model of disability has much in common with critical analyses that deconstruct and denaturalize race and gender. In this course, we will consider the implications of the social model of theorizing disability, examine the critiques, and explore the alternatives.
Requisite courses
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and SOC-2100.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.