The Disability and Chronic Illness Reading Group has relaunched in the 2025/26 academic year. Led by Professor Gill Haddow and Nicola Crowe, this group delves into essential topics and scholars in disability research and theory.Sessions will be held monthly throughout 2025/26: When: 1st Friday of each month, 10-11am

Where: Online via Teams

Our reading group sessions are designed to be relaxed and informal, so you are welcome to: 

Keep your camera turned on or off 

Participate through the Teams chat rather than verbally

Listen only 

However, some general guidelines for participation are to: 

Raise your hand if you want to contribute verbally, and wait to be called on 

Briefly introduce yourself and your pronouns when contributing verbally 

Note whether you would like your message to be read when contributing via the teams chat.

Open to both students and staff. No prior knowledge is required - just an interest in disability studies. Session topics will be announced before each semester begins. This week is Crip Theory:

MAIN READING: Mery Karlsson, M., and Rydström, J. (2023) ‘Crip Theory: A Useful Tool for Social Analysis’, Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research, 31(4), pp. 395-410. Available at: https://doiorg. eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/08038740.2023.2179108

Rejecting ableism, compulsory able-bodiedness, and normativity, Crip Theory has the potential to expand disability studies research and dialogue . However, it is still not used frequently as an academic research framework. In this article, the authors outline Crip Theory and its potential uses in intersectional and feminist analyses

Additional Reading:

Peers, D., Brittain, M., and McRuer, R. (2012) ‘Crip Excess, Art, and Politics: A Conversation with Robert McRuer’, Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 34(3-4).

 Jenks, A. (2019) ‘Crip theory and the disabled identity: why disability politics needs impairment’, Disability & Society, 34(3). Available here. 

Meeting ID: 357 562 779 550 89 Passcode: V7WU6td7