The Modern Languages Association Committee on Disability Issues in the Profession is hosting 2 panels at MLA in January 9-12, 2025 in New Orleans. We treat topics of interest to those of us in French and Francophone Studies. While the required 35-word limit might make these topics seem limited, they are not. Please feel free to reach out to either organizer with questions.
A brief synopsis of context: The fact is that French Studies faculty also face issues of disability—these can range from being Deaf to being neurodivergent, needing crip time and so much more. The publishing world (and some conferences) may not address the needs of those with disabilities. For the first subject a colleague of mine at a private college who was in a wheelchair ended up leaving a great tenure track job, not due to job performance nor her students—she and they were excellent—but because the college provided no accommodations, no recognition that without proper access she could not get into the theatre on her campus, for instance. Other brilliant colleagues have voiced how a flare-up of their disability might interfere with a deadline, etc. In short, once hired—are access needs, etc. relevant to their daily lives addressed properly? Visibility is the theme of the conference, and some with disability find themselves “invisible” to administration and others that do not “see” any need to provide access.
The second panel below points to the intersection of various concerns, performance and literature, etc. The topics are given as examples, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Nelson if interested. The topics should intrigue our colleagues whether in US or abroad.
Deadline: March 15, 2024
Panel 1:
Disability and Hiring: access, accommodation, belonging, and retention
We welcome perspectives on disability hiring and what comes after. How can institutions leave space for the disabled to fully participate? How can we create belonging and retain our talented colleagues? Email E. Nicole Meyer, nimeyer@augusta.edu 250-word maximum abstract.
Panel 2:
Deaf performance, language, and art
Intersections of Deaf performance, language, and art that foster discussions in language, literature and/or performance studies welcome. Possible topics: Deaf theater/translation, Deaf performance art, DeafBlind/protactile theater, ASL literature, interpreting body as text, and beyond. Abstracts.
Email Jennifer Nelson, jennifer.nelson@gallaudet.edu
Just so you know: we provide access copies, deaf interpretation, and CART at our sessions.
