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Anti-Ableist Research Cultures: A Research Presentation, Discussion and Zine Workshop
DATE: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
TIME: 10:30am – 2:30pm
LOCATION: Online and in-person at Room 301 (Peña Room), Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, level 3, 1961 East Mall
COST: Free, registration required.
Join us for the first in a series of disability justice events presented by the Public Humanities Hub. This event is co-sponsored by Nadena Doharty (EDST).
Shortcut to accessibility information.
There is an increasing recognition that university research cultures are exclusionary, and we are witnessing more interventions to promote positive research culture, policy, and practice. Too often, however, disability and disabled researchers are sidelined in EDI discourse and practice. The Wellcome Anti-Ableist Research Cultures (WAARC) project has responded to this gap by bringing together academic, postgraduate, early-career, and contract researchers, professional services colleagues, and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to develop activities that centre disability and contest systemic ableism across three priority areas:
- Environment (inclusive recruitment and employment)
- Development (accessible events and inclusive research methods)
- Collaboration (projects that centre DPOs)
- and a Cross-Cutting theme (anti-ableist webinars, podcasts, and action plan)
WAARC Academic Lead, Dr. Antonios Ktenidis, will present findings and resources from the project. Dr. Nadena Doharty, Canada Research Chair in Black Experiences in and through Education, in the Department of Educational Studies, UBC, will moderate a discussion and Q&A, and following a catered lunch, book artist Terra Poirier will facilitate a multi-modal zine workshop to reflect on what it means for a university to be anti-ableist.
Schedule
- 10:30 AM – 12:10 PM: Presentation and moderated Q&A, with opportunities for in-person and online attendees to ask questions and share reflections. There will be a 10-minute break about halfway through. (In-person and Zoom)
- 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM: Catered lunch (In-person).
- 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Multi-modal zine workshop. Participants may work individually or collaboratively to create paper, digital, or audio zines. Materials will be supplied, including pre-folded booklets. After a 10-minute break, participants may share their work in a mini exhibition and closing discussions. (In-person)
When registering, in-person participants may choose to attend the morning session only, or to stay for lunch and/or the workshop. Spaces are limited, especially for the workshop.
All those interested in anti-ableist research are warmly invited to attend.
Speakers
Dr. Antonios Ktenidis (SFHEA) is a Lecturer in the School of Education, University of Sheffield. His research is interdisciplinary, bringing together Critical Disability Studies, Disabled Children’s Childhood Studies, Short Studies, and different Sociologies (of Education, of Space, of Stature, Medical Sociology), to explore the intersections of ableism, disablism, heightism, and developmentalism in education and beyond. He is also interested in the development of anti-ableist research cultures and anti-ableist pedagogies, and is an Academic Lead of the Wellcome Anti-Ableist Research Cultures (WAARC) project. Antonios is also Co-Investigator in the ESRC-funded project, ”Amplifying the mental health of Black university students: A Black, Mad, and Disability Studies Intersectional Inquiry,” and a co-convenor for the British Educational Research Association’s (BERA) Inclusive Education Special Interest Group (SIG). Teaching-wise, Antonios is the Director for the BA in Education, Culture and Childhood and he teaches Critical Disability Studies and Inclusive Education to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Dr. Nadena Doharty (she/her/hers) is Canada Research Chair in Black Experiences in and through Education. As a sociologist of education, Nadena’s work brings together the theoretical strands of: critical race feminism, the sociology of emotion, and, more recently Black Critical Theory. Nadena’s theoretical frameworks have been applied, principally, to Black African and Caribbean young people and adults in school and post-secondary institutions.
Terra Poirier (she/her) is a disabled and neurodivergent artist who works with pinhole photography, artist books, and installation to explore precarity, memory, and solidarity. She is the lead author and organizer of the book, Non-Regular: Precarious academic labour at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (2018, UNIT/PITT). Terra’s teaching and facilitation spans art, design, and social justice in universities, galleries, festivals, conferences, and community spaces. She has a BFA in Photography from Emily Carr University and is a master’s student in the Adult Learning and Education program in the Department of Educational Studies, UBC.
We want to acknowledge and thank the Wellcome Trust for their Institutional Funding for Research Culture Award.
Access Information
The following accessibility information is being actively updated as information becomes available. Where noted, some accessibility measures are available by requesting through the registration form or by emailing Sophie Roth at public.humanities@ubc.ca.
Getting there
- Public transit: Several bus routes serve the UBC campus. View maps and detailed info about Translink routes, stops, and fares.
- Address: 1961 East Mall. This Wayfinding Map includes accessible directions to the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre from areas across campus as well as the location of the Accessibility Shuttle stops.
- UBC’s Accessibility Shuttle provides pick-up and drop-off at designated stops and follows a set schedule. Transfer times vary and it may be difficult to arrive on time. While the Accessibility Shuttle does stop at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, the shuttle stop is located on the west side of the building, while access to the elevators is on the east side of the building. Learn more at the UBC Accessibility Shuttle page.
- Vehicle passenger drop-off is available 120 metres away from entrance at loading zone in front of 1873 East Mall.
- Accessible, paid parking is available in the Rose Garden Parkade at 6278 NW Marine Drive, and in the University Blvd indoor lot at 6131 University Blvd. You can view detailed parking information at the UBC parking map, which you can filter for accessible parking and elevators.
- There are also 10 angled, non-accessible parking spots at the Buchanan outdoor lot at 1833 East Mall, which is 230 metres from the venue.
- There is reserved parking for Evo car-share in several spots on campus.
- There is a bike rack and a Mobi bike-share station immediately in front of the East Mall entrance to the building.
Building access and wayfinding
- Main building entrance at 1961 East Mall is sidewalk-level, with no steps. Doors have automatic openers.
- From East Mall, enter through the main doors. The Peña Room is located within the Chapman Learning Commons on the 3rd floor in room 301. View or download the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre floor plan (PDF, 136 KB).
- Elevator is on the lobby level, directly to the left of the main East Mall entrance. Take it to the 3rd floor, exit and go straight ahead, crossing through the Commons, and then right to reach the Peña Room. The Commons floor may be slippery when wet.
- Room entrance does not have an automatic door opener but staff will be monitoring the door. There are no stairs within the room.
- Washrooms are located on all levels near the elevators. Each washroom has a modified stall, although they are not labelled. The accessible and all-gender single stall washrooms are located on levels 1, 3, and 4.
- Accessible water fountains are located beside the washrooms on all levels of the building.
Interpretation and auditory support
- Microphones will be used by speakers and for the Q&A.
- Assistive listening devices: Available upon request.
- AI captioning will be used for morning session
- Live captioning is available for the morning session upon request by Thu July 23.
- ASL interpretation is available for the morning and/or afternoon sessions upon request by Tue July 14.
Safety
- Masks are required unless not medically able / if it creates an access barrier, and will be available free of charge at the door. If you have cold or flu symptoms, please stay home, rest well, and join the lecture online.
Presentation materials
- Slides & handouts: Printed and digital presentation slides and handouts are available in advance upon request.
- Alternatives formats: Available upon request.
Seating & tables
- Lightly cushioned chairs are arranged around several circular tables and along both sides of the room. View a photograph of the room. The seating and tables will be arranged to allow room for wheelchairs and scooters. Please contact us if you have a specific seating requirement.
Sensory considerations
- The room is carpeted.
- Scent: In consideration of those with chemical sensitivities, we ask that attendees refrain from wearing perfumes and minimize their use of other scented products.
- Feel free to quietly move around or stim as needed.
- We are working on getting information on quiet spaces and lighting.
Have questions or need further accessibility arrangements?
We want this event to be accessible. If you require accommodations or additional information to participate, please let us know as early as possible. ASL interpretation and live captioning must be booked in advance; please request ASL by July 14 and live captioning by July 23.
Requests can be made in the registration form or by emailing Sophie Roth at public.humanities@ubc.ca.