Crip Spacetime: Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life

Margaret Price argues that individual accommodations in academia impede access and result in a unique experience of "crip spacetime" for disabled academics. She calls for the university to move away from individualized models of accommodation and toward a new system of collective accountability and care.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 19 April 2024
Publisher: Duke University Press

In the realm of academia, where competition and productivity are highly valued, Margaret Price steps in with a unique perspective. Through extensive research, including over three hundred interviews and survey responses, Price sheds light on the experiences of disabled academics, challenging the prevailing notion that individual accommodations are the primary means of addressing accessibility. Instead, she argues that these accommodations often hinder rather than enhance access for disabled individuals.

The consequences of these barriers are profound, leading to a distinct experience of space, time, and being coined as "crip spacetime" by Price. Disabled academics face a range of pains and injustices, resulting in their living and working in realities that differ significantly from their nondisabled colleagues. This unique experience of spacetime is shaped by the intersection of disability with other forms of marginalization, such as race, gender, and class.

Price delves into the ways in which disability factors into the exclusionary practices prevalent in universities. She highlights the disproportionate harm faced by multiply marginalized academics, who are often left behind in the pursuit of academic success. The lack of accommodations and support for their unique needs further exacerbates their marginalization, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and exclusion.

However, Price is not content with simply acknowledging the challenges faced by disabled academics. She boldly calls for a shift away from individualized models of accommodation and toward a new system of collective accountability and care. She advocates for the university to recognize the valuable knowledge and expertise that disabled academics possess regarding sustainable forms of access. By embracing a collective approach, the university can create an inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes equitable opportunities for all.

In conclusion, Margaret Price's work in Crip Spacetime offers a powerful critique of the competitive, productivity-focused academic environment. Through her extensive research and bold advocacy, Price challenges the notion that individual accommodations are the solution to accessibility and instead calls for a collective approach that values diversity, promotes equity, and ensures the inclusion of all disabled individuals. Her work serves as a call to action for the university to embrace a new system of care and accountability, one that recognizes the unique experiences and contributions of disabled academics and works towards creating a more inclusive and accessible academic community.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478026136