B. Bixby Teaching & Learning Conference 2-05 Arizona International College
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Disability Studies: Academics and Life Intersect
Barbara Bixby, Professor, Arizona International College
Naomi Ortiz, Project Coordinator, KASA and AIC alum
Presented at the Teaching and Learning Conference, APSA
February 2005
Introduction:
I used to see myself as an able bodied person. As such, I did not think about curb
cuts or automatic doors or the steps leading up to my porch. Now I think of myself as a
currently non-disabled person. I now understand the value of universal design, I see why
many disabled people dislike Jerry Lewis and I read the reviews of “Million Dollar
Baby” with concern. I (and you!) will move into this group as we age, since we live
longer, but often with some loss in abilities. Walkers and wheelchairs will be part of our
lives, whether it is a military wound, a motorcycle accident or just being elderly and frail.
Some of us are born into this category, but sooner or later, most of us join.
My training is in public policy and political science, and until I met and worked
with Naomi Ortiz, I would not have thought much about these issues. My interests,
political awareness and teaching methods have changed because of this teaching project.
In the Fall of 2002, Ms Ortiz and I co-taught a class called Advanced Studies in
Public Policy: Disability Culture (see full syllabus at the end of the paper). This was a
typical class for Arizona International College (AIC), but is perhaps different to students
and faculty at other schools. This paper will describe the process of creating the class, a
bit about the course itself, and some evaluation of its impact. In addition, I will add some
comments about how such a class might be replicated on another campus.
The original idea for this presentation was for Ms Ortiz to present as well. Time
and finances prevented this, but I will try to summarize some of our conversations to give
you a sense of what Ms Ortiz saw as valuable. We are hoping to write a more complete
summary of the experience for publication.
Background:
Arizona International College is a liberal arts college dedicated to
interdisciplinary and innovative teaching. Within that context, classes emerge based on
student interest, community connections, and the creation of a robust curriculum. We
require a rigorous senior capstone project, two semesters in length, which students design
and execute with the close mentoring of their advisor. This class evolved from Ms Ortiz’s
interest and substantial background in Disability Studies, and Prof. Bixby’s courses in
Public Policy.
In addition, I had worked closely with Ms Ortiz in other classes, included an
independent study. She had interned with the American Friends Service
Committee(AFSC), was a trained facilitator in the Alternatives to Violence Project
(AVP) as well as the youth oriented Help Increase the Peace Project or HIPP, and active
in the disability rights movement. When she was a student at AIC, she was a board
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