Lawrence University is set to offer “Introduction to Disability Studies” again in Spring Term 2026, marking a step in bringing more disability awareness to campus. The course will be taught by Assistant Professor of Environmental and Ethnic Studies Sigma Colón and Assistant Professor of German Studies Petra Watzke on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:25 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. There will be 20 seats available for the course. According to senior Rose Williams, the course has been in the works for a few years.
“The idea for a course focusing on disability began before I arrived at Lawrence,” Williams explained. “Alex Chand, a previous chair and the original founder of LUDWiG (Lawrence University Disability Working Group), worked with Colón, then-Professor Vanessa Plumly, and a few other students at the time to secure a grant that allowed two students, myself and [alumna Kat Girod ’24], to participate in a summer research project in which we worked with Plumly to create ‘Introduction to Disability Studies.’”
According to Williams, “Introduction to Disability Studies” was first offered in Spring Term 2023 through the Ethnic Studies department, since Lawrence does not have a department specializing specifically in disability studies. She said the course was well-received in 2023, sparking increased interest in LUDWiG and more general disability awareness on campus. Its revival comes after a brief hiatus due to faculty unavailability, according to Williams. The goal of her and Girod’s research was to construct the curriculum for the course, a project that involved analyzing a broad spectrum of resources, from the legal stipulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to personal narratives and artistic expressions.
The course modules explore distinctions between the social and physical models of disability, the historical and contemporary landscape of disability activism, the evolution of disability history, the representation of disability in art and culture and the intersections of disability with other identities like race, gender and sexuality. Williams said that they aimed to craft a comprehensive understanding of disability that transcends purely medical definitions, incorporating social, cultural and political dimensions to foster critical engagement with the diverse experiences within the disability community.
Williams expressed her hope that “Introduction to Disability Studies” will serve as a catalyst for further development in the discipline of disability studies at Lawrence University. She envisioned the eventual establishment of a Disability Studies minor, particularly given the current political climate, which underscores the importance of actively pursuing educational opportunities that deepen understanding of marginalized identities. She highlighted the course’s accessibility to all students and its fulfillment of the Dimensions of Diversity general education requirement, encouraging Lawrentians to register if they are interested.