FAQs

"Disability culture" and "disability cultural pride" are terms referring to a wide variety of movements and subcultures that promote the idea that disability can be part of one's identity, as are race, class, gender and gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, linguistic background, religious/philosophical beliefs, etc. To many people who have never thought of disability from this perspective before, it can be tempting to wonder, "Why would someone be proud of having a disability?" Indeed, disability cultural pride is complex. As a general rule, people who adopt disability as part of their identities do so as a way to express happiness and pride in who they are, and to talk back against societal norms that often tell them that they are "broken" or need to be "cured." This does not mean that having a disability is always a pleasant experience, or that the only people asserting disabled identities are those who consider themselves merely to be "different."

Rather, it's about seeing your disability(ies)—both the positive and challenging aspects—as part of what makes you unique, and choosing to define yourself on your terms. (Similarly, who's to say that life without a disability is always a piece of cake?) It's also important to remember that "disability" is not always something physical or obvious. Anyone, whether they identify as quadriplegic, deaf, autistic, blind, emotionally variant, as someone with an intellectual/developmental disability—or any other identity, including non-disabled/able-bodied—is welcome to join the DCC in engaging with the idea of disability as culture, pride and identity.

Certain disability cultural subgroups will deliberately capitalize the first letter of the label they use to identify themselves. This is done to show a sense of connection to the larger community of people who identify in this way, rather than just describing a "condition." The American Deaf community is one group that is known widely for doing this; other examples include some people identifying with the Autistic and Blind communities. Similarly, some people with disabilities may identify themselves using terms that some might consider to be offensive, such as "crip," "gimp," and "mad." This is often done as a way to show pride in one's identity, and to "reclaim" words that have traditionally been used to demean people whose minds or bodies varied from the "norm." This is similar to how some individuals have reclaimed the word "queer." However, these terms can, at times, still have derogatory meanings, especially if used by people outside of an "in-group" of those who choose to identify.

Disability studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary academic field that addresses how factors such as history, the media, science and social power converge to create the concept(s) we often label as "disability." The field of disability studies places strong emphasis on the idea that disability is not a single, objectively determinable "thing," and that people with disabilities need to be leaders in the conversations about them/us—a right which they/we have traditionally been denied. Disability studies scholars recognize and value disability as a part of diversity. A common saying among disability rights activists is "Nothing About Us, Without Us."

Here at the Disability Cultural Center (DCC), we strive to be on the cutting edge of accessibility. To promote access and inclusion for all members of the campus community means to ensure that everyone feels as if they belong and that their contributions are valued. We believe strongly in the idea of universal design: making physical and learning environments accessible to the widest number of people, from the beginning. Some (although certainly not all) examples of universal design in action include:

• Ensuring that all DCC materials contain large-print text, information that is readable by screen-reading software and Braille.
• Maintaining a fully accessible website. Website visitors who prefer not to have images are advised to turn off images when browsing.
• Providing alternative text for images and captions for videos.
• Having American Sign Language (ASL) and CART (Computer Assisted Real-Time Transcription/Communication Access Real-Time Translation) available at events, whenever possible.
• Ensuring that events and programs are designed in ways that accommodate the needs of people who may be sensitive to various sensory stimuli (e.g., flickering lights, loud noises).
• Understanding the variability in people's emotions and emotional responses.

We do not offer accommodations at the DCC; if you are looking for testing or other types of support services and accommodations, please contact the The Center for Disability Resources (CDR) at 315.443.4498. While the DCC and CDR collaborate at times on various things, such as ensuring accessibility for events, they are two separate entities with different (but connected) purposes. The University's Disability Cultural Center is housed under the Student Experience—and is the first center of its kind in the U.S. to be affiliated with a student affairs department and not a disability services office.

Yes, although both entities work collaboratively in a number of different capacities. The CDR and the DCC may co-sponsor events together, just as the DCC co-sponsors events with other organizations on campus. While the CDR provides services to students in order to ensure equal access to education, the DCC provides members of the University and Syracuse community with a place to engage with disability as part of culture and identity.

Yes!  Everyone is welcome.

The DCC serves as a meeting place for students, faculty, staff and community members with and without disabilities and disability identities. Since we are a unit within the Student Experience, we are especially concerned with meeting the needs of undergraduate and graduate students. For more information about our mission, please visit our Mission and Philosophy webpage.

If you are interested in seeking DCC sponsorship for a speaker, event, etc., please call 315.443.0228 or email dcc@syr.edu.

Yes! People experience their own disability identities and other physical or neurological differences in a wide variety of ways. We welcome and encourage conversations around all of the ways that we experience and interact with our various identities.

Please check out our Language Guide for more information.

Please visit our Resources webpage.

Please visit the STOP Bias webpage for more information on identifying acts of bias and reporting acts of bias.