Authoring Dis/ability Identities: Mapping the Role of Ableism in Teacher Candidate Identity Construction

Abstract

Ableism, or the belief that abled ways of being and knowing are superior, perpetuates deficit views of ability differences, and constructs dis/ability as a problem in need of remediation so that individuals achieve “normalcy.” Ableism’s entrenched pervasiveness in education systems can be a significant barrier in teacher education when preparing critical educators who can work towards radical forms of dis/ability justice. In this paper, we argue that dis/abled teacher candidates can afford particular insight into the ways in which ableism operates in educational institutions and that dis/ability should be considered an asset to inclusive and socially just teacher preparation. Using Critical Conversation Journey Mapping as a methodology, we use sociocultural theory and a critical dis/ability studies framework to explore ways in which dis/abled teacher candidates in teacher preparation programs both experienced ableism throughout their educational trajectories and how these experiences served as cultural resources in their teacher preparation.