Image Description: In the centre of this image is a of cluster of words assembled in a circle-like shape within a rectangular white background chosen by the artist. The words: collaborative innovation, inclusion, excellence, and collaboration are in dark pink. The words: access, welcome, options, careers, free, barriers, hands, and normal are in orange. The words: adaptive, love, justice, and adaptable are in dark purple. The words: inspiring, accessible, diverse, and celebration are in yellow. And the background of the white rectangle of words is brushstrokes and pallet knife strokes of red, orange, brown, black, blue and pink. In the middle of the image.

Image Description: In the centre of this image is of a cluster of words assembled in a circle-like shape within a rectangular background chosen by the artist. The words: obstacles, workload, humility, and access are in yellow. The words: colonialism, distance, formality, timelines, and structure are in dark pink. The words: experience, lack, expectations, and lived are in dark purple. The words: exclusion, invisible-spaces, accommodations, accommodations, and inadequacies are in orange. The words: solutions, bandaids, climbing, and mountain are in dark pink. And the background of the white rectangle of words is modern painting which includes fluid-like collisions of the light and dark blue, light and dark green, and light and dark yellow, and small spots of white colours.

Image Description: In the centre of this image is of a cluster of words assembled in a circle-like shape within a rectangular white background chosen by the artist. The words: revolution, visible, uncomfortably and threatening in orange. The words: nuisance, silent, confusing, and effort are in dark purple. The words: nail, thorn and sticks in light pink. The words, judged, extra, inconvenient, and shame in dark pink. The words: resistance, behind and collective in yellow. And the background of the white rectangle of words are clusters of combined colours of light pink, hot pink, burgundy and magenta, orange, yellow, brown, dark blue, light blue and white marbled marbled colours flowing.

Artist Statement

In January 2024, members of the Zine Team facilitated a series of three virtual workshops on Zoom for current students and alumni with disabilities. Where a series ranging from 2-3 people participated in each different workshop. These workshops focused on zine creation. Discussions explored the following themes:

• Acknowledging how disabled students are seen in academic spaces , including classrooms, areas working with professors, and policies;
• Navigating barriers in society and academia related to disabilities; and
• Envisioning future accessibility in academia, such as enhancing how students in academic spaces are treated and collaborated with and desired changes in the built facilities and instructor attitudes. 

Based on the workshop discussions, participants brainstormed ideas that helped create zine pieces. Participants also engaged in a collaborative creative element. They were invited to respond to questions surrounding barriers they faced as current and former students with disabilities in the learning process and their hopes for future disabled students’ academic journeys and experiences in academic institutions. 3-4 words were collected from each participant in every workshop.

The students opted to address the questions by either speaking aloud their 3-4 words or by using Zoom chat. Ongoing discussions frequently ensued in all three workshops. An artist on the zine team then compiled the words into word cloud bubbles on creatively coloured backgrounds. These vibrant backgrounds represent the colour of community that can bring light to many individuals experiences. This can be seen when communities provide opportunities for individuals to share their personal stories; it creates a safe space where previously marginalized voices, especially those not fitting able-bodied or able-minded narratives, can find connection and expression.