Call for papers

9th Annual Second City Conference onDisability Studies in Education
in partnership with the Syracuse University Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies

Conference on Disability Studies and Law

May 1-3, 2009

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Righting Educational Wrongs:
Disability Studies in Education, Policy & Law

CALL FOR PAPERS

This jointly sponsored conference will explore the relationship between disability studies in education, policy and law. The conference is co-sponsored by Disability Studies in Education, the Syracuse University Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies, the SU College of Law Disability Law and Policy Program, and the SU School of Education.

Disability Studies involves the critical examination of the role of"normalcy" in society. It requires us to recognize, appreciate, and most importantly, value difference. To the extent that legal education examines how to recognize, legitimate, and allocate differences--different rights, responsibilities, resources, and even justice within society, DisabilityStudies provides a lens through which we can analyze the meaning of such differences within our legal and educational systems, and in the larger society. Further, putting law and disability studies in education in conversation provides a rich context from which to question issues of power, privilege, and to consider how differences are defined within education and legal systems.

Syracuse University is particularly well suited to host this precedent-setting conference. Syracuse University is home to one of th enation's first graduate programs in Disability Studies and the first joint degree program in Law and Disability Studies. SU's School of Education has been a pioneer in the inclusion and deinstitutionalization movements in the United States, making way for all learners to participate fully in schools and in the community.

The Disability Studies in Education (DSE), a special interest group of AERA, seeks to cultivate interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the phenomenon of disability. DSE is an interdisciplinary field of scholarship that engages in research, policy, and action that contextualizes disability within political and social spheres; privileges the interest, agendas, and voices of people labeled with disability/disabled people; promotes social justice, equitable and inclusive educational opportunities, and full and meaningful access to all aspects of society for people labeled with disability/disabled people; and rejects deficit models of disability. This year's conference will bring together scholars in disability studies in education and disability law to explore both the history of disability advocacy and continued struggles for disability rights in educational contexts.

We welcome conference proposals that engage one of the embedded conference themes:

(1) Histories of exclusion & activism;

(2) Discourses & practices that shift the conversation from inclusion to belonging;

(3) Critical & theoretical perspectives on disability studies, law & policy;

(4) Global perspectives on disability studies in education & law.

We welcome joint proposals from presenters representing more than one constituency or that combine multiple fields of study. We welcome a range of presentation formats including:

. Workshop Sessions - Generative spaces that encourage collaboration and active participation directed toward the creation of policy imperatives or action plans/projects;

· Paper and Panel Presentations - To stimulate further thought and action;

· Alternative Formats - That engage multiple modalities &/or audience participation.

Often a highlight of the conference, we will again be honoring a Senior and Junior Scholar on the opening night of the conference. We will also hold a town hall meeting at the close of the conference where the conference attendees will meet to discuss future conferences and plans. We also have anumber of plenary sessions planned featuring leading scholars in the field. All presenters will be expected to pay the conference registration fee. Inaddition, if your proposal is selected, you may be requested to forward handouts or copies of papers several weeks ahead of time (April 1st) to facilitate preparation of alternative formats.

Proposal Guidelines

Submissions must include the following:

1. A proposal cover sheet including for each presenter, the name, institutional affiliation, address, paper title, phone number, email address, preferred format: workshop, paper presentation, panel presentation, alternative format (please describe).

2. A 2-3 page double-spaced proposal including a summary of your paper; a statement about how it relates to one of the four embedded conference themes; a list of alternative formats that you will provide (large print, electronic copy of presentation on CD; etc.).

3. A brief abstract (100-200 words) of your presentation for the conference program.

4. Proposals must be submitted electronically as a WORD attachment or PDF tothe Conference website: http://www.disabilitystudiesineducation.org/

Proposals must be received by November 1, 2008 in order to be considered. Presenters will be notified in early December.