Celebrating disability culture: A spotlight on UIC’s DCC

Natalia Madrigal, Office of Diversity, Equity & Engagement | Posted on July 08, 2024
UIC Disability Cultural Center

The UIC Disability Cultural Center (DCC)–one of the seven Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC) on campus–brings advocacy, intersectionality and inclusion to the forefront of their work. Crafted collectively by UIC students, faculty and staff, the DCC’s mission recognizes and celebrates disability communities through a multifaceted approach with the aim of advocating for social justice, building disability culture, exploring intersectional identities and fostering a sense of belonging.

Margaret Fink, PhD, director of the DCC, shared: “Our mission was crafted collaboratively by a group of UIC students, faculty and staff. A DCC Campus Committee met multiple times to have thoughtful conversations about what the DCC would be and how best to distill those ideas into guidance for what the center should do and be.”

A significant part of the DCC’s role is providing a platform for people to examine their connection with disability identity, emphasizing a shift from medicalized ideas to cultural and political perspectives on disability. Fink highlighted the importance of disability community in challenging internalized ableism and building “access intimacy.” This strategy approaches anti-ableism and social change as something that requires allyship, relationship-building and solidarity—both from nondisabled allies and amongst people with different disabilities.

The DCC has continuously sparked important conversations with the campus community through events like the Symposium on Disability Cultural Centers in Higher Education and partnerships with other cultural centers, like Unpacking Immigration & Disability Justice, one of the DCC’s first events. These programs question established myths and promote diversity while also educating and empowering people.

Reflecting on Unpacking Immigration & Disability Justice, Fink recalled: “Many people expressed a deep sense of gratitude for this very rare kind of space, and some had even traveled from other parts of Illinois to join the event.”

Through the provision of electronic versions of materials, visual information descriptions and accommodation for different dietary requirements, the DCC puts accessibility at the center of their practices, so that every student, irrespective of their disability, can make their access needs known and engage more fully with everything the center has to offer. It also regularly solicits community feedback to improve accessibility. Their crowd-sourced community lounge improvements include using ergonomic furniture and non-fluorescent lighting to create a cozy and friendly atmosphere.

The center is working with other cultural centers and student organizations to expand its influence and outreach on campus. Additionally, it interacts with varied communities and promotes disability community and social change beyond the university by holding collaborative events and lending its facilities to different organizations.

To get engaged with the DCC, individuals are invited to stop by the center and connect with its welcoming community. To accommodate a range of needs and preferences, the center has two designated study and hangout rooms, one that is a quiet area and one that is a livelier lounge space. It also welcomes connections via Zoom for those who cannot easily attend in-person.

Through collaboration and engagement, the DCC is creating a more equitable campus environment, challenging ableism and welcoming intersectional identities. As the campus continues to move forward, the Disability Cultural Center sets an excellent precedent for creating positive change by boosting marginalized voices and experiences, encouraging social justice and empowerment for all.

To stay updated on the DCC’s events and conversations, please visit:

 

To get involved, please visit:

Modified on July 11, 2024