Dear all,

With apologies for cross-posting, please see below for details of the CFPs for a session I am convening at the RGS-IGB Annual International Conference in August:

CFPs: Breaking Barriers: A Discussion on Disability and Chronic Illness in Academic Geography

Research Group Affiliation(s)
Postgraduate Forum

Session Convenor(s)
Flossie Kingsbury (Aberystwyth University, UK)

Abstract

The aim of this session is to provide a space for both disabled/chronically ill and able academics and postgraduate students to share and discuss the issues relating to disability and chronic illness in academia. Recent polls by disability charity Scope revealed that nearly 50% of disabled people feel excluded from society (Smith and Dixon 2018: 7), and that non-disabled people are now more likely to consider disabled people less productive than they have at any point in history (Dixon, Smith and Touchet 2018: 12). Academia is not unaffected by these negative attitudes. research by the University and College Union has found that a significant number of disabled people working in academia have encountered negative and undermining attitudes in colleagues, been unable to access appropriate support, and found that discriminatory policies created a barrier to promotion and career development (2017: 2). Clearly, more work is needed to increase awareness and improve support.

This session will take a roundtable-esque format, beginning with short expert talks, then utilising live-discussion technology to allow the conversation to move from expert-led to participant-led as it goes on. With this in mind, contributions are welcomed which deal with topics such as, but not limited to:
•	personal experiences of dealing with disability and/or chronic illness in academia
•	ways of improving access for disabled people in academia
•	strategies for reducing ableism in academia

Proposals are welcome from postgraduate students and early-career researchers as well as established academics. Contributions which deviate from the standard conference paper format are also encouraged. Every attempt will be made to ensure the session is as accessible as possible, but do let me know if you have any specific access requirements that you would like to make sure are incorporated. Thank you!

Instructions for Authors
Each paper/presentation is expected to last from 15-20 minutes. Abstracts should be no more than 250 words, and be submitted to Flossie Kingsbury ([log in to unmask]) by the end of Friday 8 February.

References
Smith, Ceri and Dixon, Simon (2018) Independent. Confident. Connected. Achieving equality for disabled people. London: Scope.
Dixon, Simon; Smith, Ceri and Touchet, Anel (2018) The disability perception gap: Policy report. London: Scope.
University and College Union (2017) Disability equality: Campaigning for accessible and inclusive workplaces. London: University and College Union.

Thank you!

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