Examining the (Lack of) Impact the #Disabilitytoowhite Movement has had on Higher Ed Disability Service Provision

Abstract

There is much talk of intersectionality within critical studies in academia, and yet there continues to be a significant disconnect between discourse and practice in this respect on campuses. In 2016, the #disabilitytoowhite movement brought attention to the pressing lack of focus on intersectionality within the Disability movement. It created debate, gave rise to emotion and offered hope that the Disability movement, and more particularly disability service provision, advocacy and scholarship within academia, might take notice and address this gap. Almost four years on, the sad observation has to be that little has changed. The author first examines his experience as accessibility consultant within higher education to explore the tension that exist with regards to race in higher ed disability service provision, and examines the hope that #disabilitytoowhite offered a change. The second part of the paper explores specific current areas of concerns. The third section offers suggestions that might enable accessibility services to address this tension and to shift practices in order to embed intersectionality in service provision.