Disability Studies students work with people with intellectual disabilities
February 12, 2018
Disability Studies 2296, Experiential Learning and Intellectual Impairment, brings 14 people with intellectual disabilities to King’s. This experiential learning course allows students to collaborate in small groups with community partners with disabilities. The group participated in a scavenger hunt on campus on February 6, 2018. The community participants each received a King’s shirt from Dean of Students, Joe Henry.
"Decades of research confirm that if you want to make real change on discriminatory attitudes towards marginalized groups, three essentials for success are extended time, frequent interactions, and a shared project... this course integrates all of these. In this way, we are hopeful that the course will be mutually beneficial for both the DS students and the community participants," says Dr. Pam Cushing, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator.
The course instructors are Mel Quevillon and Jennifer Shields. They were chosen for their distinct combination of expertise in teaching, experiential education, and community development work in the disability community.
In this course, students participate in lectures, workshops and outside experiences.
The learning outcomes for DS 2296 include learning how to listen to disabled participants and how to genuinely see them as experts of their own lives and not a label or group). Also, to develop possible solutions in collaboration with community participants.
At the end of the semester, students and participants, together with their families and friends, will be invited to a reception to see and celebrate what the groups created together.