ADA30 Celebratory Symposium

May 2021

Join us for the ADA30 Celebratory Symposium, hosted by Oregon State University in recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This event will take place online during the month of May 2021. The Symposium aims to bring together disabled and nondisabled participants from artistic, scholarly, activist and other community groups at OSU and beyond to cultivate discussions around disability-related themes.

We encourage proposal submissions from a wide range of creative, critical, and activist perspectives on disability-related themes, including disability activism, disabled identities, neurodivergence and neuroqueerness, Deaf/HOH culture, and accessibility. We are looking for a range of presentation formats, including research presentations, roundtable discussions, performances, artist talks, and workshops on grassroots activism, art-making, or best practices. For example, proposals might choose to engage with the following topics:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act / ADA30
• Disability Pride and Disability Cultures
• Disability Justice
• Accessible Pedagogies
• Critical and Feminist Disability Studies
• Web Accessibility and Disabled Internet Culture
• Race, Gender, and Disability

• Ableism, Sanism, Ageism, and/or Disability Discrimination
• Disability and/in STEM
• Disability and/in Media
• Disability and/in K-12 and Higher Ed
• Transnational Perspectives on Disability

Scheduling

The Symposium organizing committee will do our best to accommodate presenters’ schedules. You will be asked to indicate your availability on the submission form.

Accessibility Agreement

Upon acceptance, each presenter will be asked to sign an Accessibility Agreement indicating that they will strive to make sessions as accessible as possible (e.g. captioning videos, providing accessible copies of materials, abiding by webcam etiquette for ASL interpreters and CART captioners).

SubmissionsGeneral Instructions

Prospective presenters can submit no more than one proposal in total. Submit your proposal via the Google Form linked below. For all submissions, in addition to the requirements for each session type below, you will need to include the following items:

1. Name(s) of proposal author(s)
2. Your organizational affiliation (if any)
3. Your email address(es)
4. The title of your paper(s), paper panel, poster, or alternative session
5. A project description or abstract (<500 words)
6. Any accessibility and/or technology needs or considerations

Workshops

A workshop is interactive and learning-oriented; facilitators will teach a practice or skill. Workshops are expected to be 60–90 minutes. Proposals should describe a) the purpose and/or objectives, b) the plan for the session, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session. Please indicated the length of your workshop (60 or 90 minutes).

Film screenings

Screening of a short film followed by discussion with creators. Proposals should include a) a brief synopsis of the film, b) the structure or intent of the discussion, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session.

Roundtable Discussions

A semi-structured discussion led by a small group of facilitators, which can include audience participation and/or a Q&A section. Proposals should include a) the key questions or topics to be discussed, b) how the discussion will be structured, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session.

Performances

A real-time artistic, poetic, or comedic performance, with option for Q&A. Proposals should include a) an overview of the format and creative content of the performance, b) how you will structure discussion/Q&A, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session.

Live Webinars

A real-time lecture or presentation which can include interactive elements and/or Q&A. Proposals should include a) the purpose and/or learning objectives, b) the plan for the session, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session.

Artist Talks

Artist(s) will have the opportunity to introduce their art to the audience, discuss their artistic process, and answer questions. Proposals should include a) an overview of the creative content, b) how you will structure discussion/Q&A, and c) a 50-word brief description of your session.

Papers

Single paper proposals should include an abstract of no more than 500 words addressing a) the purpose of your research; b) your central argument; c) your theoretical frameworks and methods; and d) the relevance of your argument or findings to disability-related community, activism, studies, and/or practice. Papers that are accepted will be put together in 90-minute panel sessions with 2-3 others that deal with similar questions or topics. Each presenter will have 20 minutes to present, with the time remaining reserved for discussion with the audience.

Paper Panels

Paper panels consist of 3-4 papers addressing a common theme or question. Panels will be 90 minutes, which includes approximately 20 minutes for each presenter with remaining time for discussion with the audience. Paper panel proposals should be no more than 500 words. For each paper on the panel, please use criteria listed in the guidelines in Papers (above).

Poster Session

This poster session will accept projects that lay out their main ideas on a graphic organizer, poster, PowerPoint, or website (e.g. tumblr). The proposal should be no more than 500 words and address a) the purpose of your research; b) your central argument; c) your theoretical frameworks and methods; and d) the relevance of your argument or findings to disability-related community, activism, studies, and/or practice. Posters that are accepted will be put together in a one-hour long session with other poster presenters.

Submissions are limited to one per person. Prospective presenters who are listed as co-presenters on more than one proposal may present no more than two sessions in total.

Submit proposals through this form:  https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BrXTjxlrrbriJf

Submissions are due by 11:59pm on December 1st, 2020.

Notifications will be sent via email by January 15th, 2021.