DISCAPAZ: Amplifying Disability Experiences in Borderlands through Storytelling
The DISCAPAZ project centers the voices and narratives of people living with disabilities and their families living along the US-Mexico border. Using artistic and creative expression, DISCAPAZ documents, analyzes and shares stories of lived experience, highlighting the unique strengths and resilience of individuals, families and communities in the sister cities of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. Multimedia inclusive arts practice is used to help individuals share their experiences in their own way through person-centered scrapbooking and digital storytelling. We will highlight participant stories, which provide an opportunity to better understand community challenges, needs and assets. This session will share our approach to community engagement and lessons learned in implementing culturally and linguistically responsive and inclusive arts-based programming and research. Attendees at this session will be able to1. Describe some of the challenges, needs and strengths of living with disability in the Arizona-Sonora border region.2. Describe approaches for authentically engaging with diverse communities as it intersects with disability.3. Identify inclusive practices to engage individuals with disabilities in multimedia storytelling.