The Critical Disability Studies team based on iHuman of the University of Sheffield had the privilege to co-organise and present their work in the 2nd International Conference on Disability Studies, with the title “Disability Matters: Critically Examining Disablism and Ableism”. Specifically, eleven members took part: Rebecca Lawthom, Katherine Runswick-Cole, Dan Goodley, Kirsty Liddiard, Harriet Cameron, Rhea Halsey, Lauren White, Ryan Bramley, Nikita Hayden, Bojana Daw Srdanovic and Antonios Ktenidis.
The conference was organised in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Education, where it also took place. Special thanks to Professor Yiota Karagianni and Christina Lazaridou for the exceptional collaboration! More information about the conference, including the programme and abstracts of the papers, can be found here.
What follows is a series of quotes from the Critical Disability Studies team regarding their experience of the conference:
Visiting Thessaloniki and Aristotle University as a community of disability scholars felt like an act of co-production. Sharing knowledges and practices in person felt like a real act of scholar activism. We know that financial and economic pressures mean Greek disability activists and scholars cannot always visit so sharing this time together felt as if we were building community (bell Hooks) . Antonios as a boundary spanner worked his magic as aligned to all of our work, we had to make access work and work access. Interesting to spend time with students who were prepared to give up time to actively participate at the weekend. (Rebecca Lawthom)
Yiota and colleagues pulled off a rare feat: in bringing together disabled activists and disability researchers into a space where dialogue and sharing occurred across different languages and through different forms of translation. (Dan Goodley)
What a wonderful space to come together and share personal perspectives and political insights. It was powerful to see intersections of theory, practice and political agendas across languages and contexts. Not to forget the building of community! (Lauren White)
What a joy and privilege it was to be part of this transdisciplinary conversation! As one of the speakers (alongside Katherine Runswick-Cole) I felt that the audience, with their whole hearts, critical ears, nodding and headshaking, hand-waving and clapping, and with their hopeful but challenging questions, brought our words to life. The experience gives us energy to keep going! (Harriet Cameron)
It was an absolute privilege to spend time in Thessaloniki with disability studies academics and disabled activists. Their stories of discrimination and hate crime were shocking, but sadly familiar to those of us visiting from the UK, where we have our own stories to tell. The conference was a timely reminder of the importance of collectivity and activism with and by marginalised people - wherever they are in the world. (Katherine Runswick-Cole)
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, what an honour to have been involved. Yiota and Antonios helped create a space to which we could gather together and share. I particularly liked hearing from many Greek activists and artists, such as Antonis Rellas, showing that despite our differences, many aspects of the disabled experience are universal. Long may these dispolitical spaces thrive! (Rhea Halsey)
What a unique moment it is when two almae matres (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Sheffield) come together for such a meaningful purpose: the 2nd International Conference on Disability Studies, Disability Matters: Critically Examining Disablism and Ableism. Among the highlights for me were the community that was built, the interactions inside and outside the 'classroom', the solidarity, the dis/political love (to quote Martina Smith), the learning and sharing that took place, the care, the connections, the food, the fun and so much more. A great reminder of the difference communities can make! (Antonios Ktenidis)
Efharisto, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki! In the face of all the discrimination Disabled people face - from the cruel political rhetoric surrounding Personal Independence Payments in the UK, to the dehumanising cuts to funding for Disabled people in Greece - how moving it was to be sat in a room with dozens of academics, activists, friends and family, who have all, quite frankly, had enough of how things are. There are too many amazing experiences to mention, but one that really stood out for me was the presentation by the Emancipation Movement for the Disabled, whose mantra, “Zero Tolerance”, resonates across national borders. The photos of the protest these brilliant activists held outside the Greek Parliament on December 3rd 2012 - the International Day of Disabled People - will stay in my memory for a very long time. Thanks to Thessaloniki, thanks to Antonios (University of Sheffield) and Yiota (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), and thank-you to all of these brilliant Critical Disability Studies colleagues who I continue to learn from. (Ryan Bramley)
I very much appreciated the opportunity to be a part of this event and to visit this terrific city. I was struck by the warmth, generosity and kindness of the people that we met in Thessaloniki and I am very grateful to Antonios and Yiota for inviting us to speak and to learn more about the incredible disability activism happening in Greece. I hope that there will be more opportunities for us to learn from you in the future. (Nikita Hayden)
It was such an utter joy to visit Thessaloniki. Listening to talks given by Greek Disability activists and scholars truly reinforced the idea that no struggle is possible without care. Hearing about the connections and mutual aid across different activist groups in the city has left a lasting impression on me. Another thing: the sense that the Aristotle University is a vital and vibrant location of learning and debate. I absolutely loved that the conference was attended by students, as well as activists, artists and academics. Thank you to Antonios, Yiota and the many others who made us feel so welcome. (Bojana Daw Srdanovic)
