WRDS 390: Writing Disability is being offered for the first time in the upcoming 2026 Winter Term.
Though Disabled people are often the subjects of research, they are rarely centred as researchers and knowledge makers themselves. As of 2026, UBC does not have a dedicated program for Critical Disability Studies. WRDS 390: Writing Disability asks students to reflect on their positionality in relation to disability, making them conscious of accessibility and inclusion in creative and research processes.
We spoke with instructor Dr. Jennifer Gagnon about the approach to the course, who shared that “the course centres learning from Disabled writers and centering the intersectional multiple identities they hold”.
As is the case with critical disability studies in general, the course explores scholarly research as a form of activism and advocacy, which makes it perfect for students who are passionate about intersectionality, human rights and social justice. A Disabled scholar herself, Dr. Gagnon is keenly aware that her choice to be so frank and public about her identity is a form of activism in and of itself. Her experiences working with students who felt like UBC syllabi and courses did not adequately represent their experiences as disabled people, was one of the key motivations behind the creation of WRDS 390.
WRDS 390 does not limit writing to conventional textual writing. Instead, students are encouraged to negotiate their subject position in relation to disability and consequently, embrace the multiplicity of writing practices (image, video, art, comics, etc.) by giving them the freedom to adapt their writing and choose the style of composing that best suits their needs and purposes.
“Experiences of disabled folks can be something that is of benefit to everybody, because it is part of our shared humanity.” – Dr. Jennifer Gagnon
True to the tenets of critical disability studies, the course pushes the envelope on existing academic structures by interrogating how academic ableism is embedded in existing scholarly research and assessment practices.
Highlighting and bringing marginalized voices to the forefront, questioning conventional ways of knowing and expertise, and prioritizing the lived experiences of Disabled people are integral aspects of the course. The instructor recognizes that there is no one way of learning and demonstrating knowledge. “When we prioritize one way of doing,” says Dr. Gagnon, “we actually penalize other ways of doing that are equally valid.”
The course is ideal for those with lived experiences of disability as well as for any students who are interested in the topics of disability justice, accessibility, advocacy, intersectionality and other similarly relevant subjects. The course explores the concept of disability as identity and as diversity, and it invites those who do not currently identify with disability to reflect on how ableism already impacts their lives. Essentially, this course is relevant for everybody. Raising awareness and taking into account the experiences of Disabled people is a collective responsibility that falls on the shoulders of everyone.
WRDS 390 will be taught by Dr. Jennifer Gagnon in Winter Term 1. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm at Buchanan B209, from September 08 to December 03.