Evolving with Access: An Analysis of Accessibility in the Writing Center Community

Abstract

Over the years, several articles have questioned and considered how writing centers can better meet the needs of students with disabilities. Unfortunately, many of these articles focus on accommodations for individuals, rather than an evolution for writing centers. In addition, much of the literature discusses disability in a way that “others” these students, omits their perspectives, and encourages consultants to see and treat them as “more different” than everyone else (Hitt, 2012). Writing center staff must wade through this literature and separate the problematic from the well informed. This takes both time and knowledge of accessibility that many may not have. In addition, the larger writing center field has yet to demonstrate what preparing for difference can look like. This individual presentation will overview a few ways that the larger writing center field can evolve in regards to accessibility and disability. The presenter will first overview past writing center literature on disability, providing and explaining examples of problematic views and suggesting helpful, informed readings for attendees. The presenter will then use these readings and examples from disability studies to analyze how writing center conferences and publications can be more accessible to members with disabilities