Loyola University Chicago

Faculty Center for Ignatian Pedagogy

What is Critical Disability (Dis-Crit)/Accessibility/Anti-ableist Pedagogy?

Critical Disability (Dis-Crit)/Accessibility Pedagogy seeks to acknowledge and validate the challenges those with impairments and disabilities face daily. An important part of the justice aspect of this framework is that we should acknowledge that simply going by what is legally and medically defined as a ‘disability’ is not enough. We should account for the full range of impairments, be they physical, mental, neurological, or otherwise. In this field, it’s about going beyond what is required and defined that truly validates and acknowledges the struggles, experiences, and overall lives of those with disabilities.

See Mission and Vision page of the Loyola Student Accessibility Center

  • Empower students with diverse needs by enhancing their self-awareness, self-determination, and self-advocacy.
  • Promote awareness of the needs of students with disabilities and encourage the Loyola community at large to respect and care for everyone.
  • Create inclusive physical, academic, and social environments by engaging and supporting the campus community to reduce barriers for students with disabilities.
  • Improve the recruitment, transition, retention and graduation of students with disabilities.
  • Ensure the effective delivery of reasonable academic and Residence Life accommodations under Section 504 and the ADA.
  • Partner with faculty and staff to provide opportunities for collaboration, professional development, personal growth, and staff interaction, as they relate to students with disabilities.
  • Provide access to students with all types of impairments.
    • Physical, mental, neurological, or otherwise.
  • Variety in the ways students can interact with coursework and academic materials.
  • Expansion of the understanding of “disability” beyond what is merely medically or legally defined.
  • Awareness of the challenges those with disabilities and impairments face daily.
  • Constant self-reflection and criticism are needed to employ this pedagogy’s continual success.

Texts/Manuscripts/Articles/Journals