Disability and Neurodivergence within the Voice Teaching Studio
This five-session course offers a timely and reflective opportunity to explore disability and neurodivergence within the voice teaching studio. Grounded in the field of critical disability studies, it will be of particular interest to voice professionals who wish to foster a more inclusive, reflexive and accessible practice. Together, we will explore how ideas about disability and ability have developed over time, and how these ideas have shaped approaches to voice teaching.
Live and Interactive Learning!
Join us for live sessions that blend taught content, discussion work, and evaluation. All sessions will be recorded, allowing catch-up at a later time.
Throughout the course, you will be invited to engage in critical reflection and discussion. You will be supported in developing practical strategies and resources that align with inclusive and anti-ableist pedagogical values, with a view to applying these in your own professional context.
Upon completion of the course, you will receive an official ITOL-accredited certificate, a badge for your website/social media and a profile on our student page
Course cost: £350
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Together, we will explore how ideas about disability and ability have developed over time, and how these ideas have shaped approaches to voice teaching. You will learn about the history of disability, the disability rights movements of the 20th century, and contemporary frameworks such as disability justice, DisCrit, crip theory, and the concepts of misfitting and neuroqueer. These will provide a foundation for thinking critically about voice pedagogy, and imagining and developing more equitable approaches to teaching and learning.
Session Times and Dates
Course Schedule
Dates:
- Monday 4th August
- Tuesday 5th August
- Monday 11th August
- Tuesday 11th August
- Monday 18th August
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm BST
Place: Online
Regional Times for all sessions
- BST (British Summer Time): 3:00 - 5:00 pm
- EDT (Eastern Daylight Time): 10:00 am - 12:00
- CDT (Central Daylight Time): 9:00 - 11:00 am
- PDT (Pacific Daylight Time): 7:00 - 9:00 am
- CEST (Central European Summer Time): 4:00 - 6:00 pm
- IST (Indian Standard Time): 7:30 - 9:30 pm
- JST (Japan Standard Time): 11:00 pm - 1:00 am
- AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time): 12:00 - 3:00 am
Course Breakdown
Introduction to disability and neurodivergence in voice pedagogy
| Session 1: | Topics |
|---|---|
How do we define disability and neurodivergence? |
Physical, sensory, cognitive disability Forms of neurodivergence |
Overview of how disability and neurodivergence intersect with voice pedagogy |
|
Brief exploration of current practices and gaps |
The music therapy – voice therapy – vocology – voice teacher continuum Where (and how) disability is currently acknowledged (or not) in pedagogy |
Introduction to foundational disability theory |
Some notes on language: person-first vs. identity-first Medical model vs. social model Minority model Affirmation model Cultural model |
Critical disability studies and critical disability theory
| Session 2: | Topics |
|---|---|
Key aspects and how they relate to voice studies / voice pedagogy: |
Challenging normalcy, systemic ableism Critcal Access Studies Reconceptualising binaries: disability / ablebodiedness, mind/body, normal/abnormal DisCrit – intersections of disability and Critical Race Theory Feminist disability theory Crip Theory – Intersections of disability and queer theory Neuroqueer – blurring the categories of neurodivergence, gender and queerness |
Applying theory to practice: ‘cripping voice pedagogy’
| Session 3: | Topics |
|---|---|
How do(es) critical disability studies challenge current pedagogical models? |
Normative vocal ideas and pathologizing models Universal design concept |
Practical matters: |
Curriculum design Assessment Resources (including braille notation) |
Ethical considerations: |
autonomy consent respecting lived experience 'nothing about us without us’ |
Assignment
| Session 4: | Topics |
|---|---|
Assignment preparation and guidance |
Mini exploratory essay and viva Self-reflection on own practice |
Further directions and provocations
| Session 5: | Topics |
|---|---|
Further directions and provocations |
Feedback / highlights from submitted work |
Broadening horizons |
Posthumanism, technology, and disability |