SBA and Dr. Chun Resource Library Present:

*Words of Resistance Open Mic: Ableism and Disability*

DATE & TIME: *Thursday April 28, 2011, 6-8pm*
LOCATION: *The Centre for Women and Trans People at U of T*
563 Spadina Avenue. Room 100
Wheelchair access through Bancroft Avenue
Wheelchair accessible bathroom on ground floor

DESCRIPTION:

Words of Resistance is a monthly open mic event that runs out of the Dr. Chun Resource Library. In April, we’re partnering with Students for Barrier-Free Access (SBA) for an evening of expressions focused on the themes of ableism and disability. You can perform through song, chants, drums, poetry, spoken word, slam poetry, monologue, dramatic re-enactment, comedy, personal narrative, ritual, make-up, costume, multimedia such as video, a combination of these elements, or perform somebody else’s work. First timers welcome. Join us on April 28th and share your perspectives, share your experiences, share your stories! People do not have to personally identify with disability to perform but can share their experiences around it.

This event is FREE, and ALL are welcome to attend or perform.

To perform, sign up in advance or just show up for the open mic!
To sign up in advance: email womens.centre AT utoronto DOT ca or call (416) 978-8201

Vegetarian & vegan refreshments will be provided.

*If you have any accessibility requests, please send an email to
sba AT utoronto DOT ca as soon as possible in order to ensure accommodation.*

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WANT TO PERFORM? Want ideas?
Suggested topics to think about & perform your piece on (just a few!):

– What does ‘disability’ mean to you?
– Intersections of race, class, gender, age, sexuality and disability
– Issues that need to be addressed around accessibility and accommodation on campus/in this city
– Social/cultural misunderstandings about disability (in general, or a particular one)
– How can a person’s understanding of disability change over time?
– How does the understanding of disability vary among cultures, communities, people?
– How are people with disabilities policed and/or (de)legitimized?
– Tokenization of disability/disabled folks
– How do people creatively deal with the challenges of disability?
– Responding and resisting to ableism & Reclaiming ‘disability’
– This stage is open to ANYONE’s experiences around disability

ALL are welcome to perform!

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A little bit about the hosts:

SBA is a student run organization that advocates for equity, access and the rights of Dis-Abled students at U of T, through the provision of non-academic programs that raise awareness. SBA works towards eliminating physical, informational and attitudinal barriers on campus. http://sba.sa.utoronto.ca/

The Dr. Chun Resource Library exists as a space for community members and University of Toronto students to access factual, critical and alternative materials that facilitates resistance to oppression among and between diverse communities. The library is committed to supporting marginal voices. In particular, those voices that have been traditionally left out of main stream political mobilizing are emphasized in our collection. The library is supported by The Centre for Women and Trans People at U of T and the Ontario Public Interest Research Group Toronto (OPIRG-Toronto). The Library is located in The Centre For Women and Trans People at U of T, 563 Spadina Ave. Room 100.

–>> Also be sure to check out Dr. Chun Resource Library’s book/reading club ‘Radical Reads’! Next meeting is on April 28, 3-5pm (just before Words of Resistance) at The Centre.