Craftivism

How we ‘do’ disability studies and to what effect is the underpinning discussion of the Lancaster conferences. Simply providing a space to present work and ideas about disability is an inadequate response to the challenges of disablism and  ableism in the academy and beyond. Instead the conference has sought to provide opportunities to practice disability studies by broadening its scope, hearing marginalised and excluded voices, and by seeking to be inclusive in our ‘doing’ of the conference.

Art and protest been at the heart of the Disabled People’s movement in the UK (and beyond), frequently intertwined to promote affirming and celebratory understandings of disability and disabled lives and to chart outrage, dissent, claims for justice and rights and challenges for change.

This year at #CeDR18 George Julian will be running an ongoing workshop/breakout space that provides an opportunity to take time out from conference presentations, to reflect on what we hear and consider how to start conversations with the help of craftivism.

The true essence of craftivism is that people create something that speaks to their own interest and skills. By its nature craftivism is very personal and is very slow. There will be an opportunity to pimp your conference bag, contribute to a key note collage, provide mini protest banners, craft an alternative conference poster or access a range of materials and resources and spend time in the breakout space to have a go at crafting what ever takes your fancy.