Vertically Integrated Projects - DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands
Goals
DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands is a multimedia project aimed at centering the voices and narratives of disabled individuals and their families living along the Arizona-Sonoran border. The project also serves as an interdisciplinary, experiential learning program that facilitates authentic engagement with border communities to address community-identified needs and amplify disabled voices in the borderlands through ongoing digital storytelling.
Issues Involved or Addressed
The overarching inquiry is to examine what it means to live with disability in the Arizona-Mexico borderlands. Through this inquiry, DISCAPAZ will provide advocates, practitioners, and the public a deeper understanding of issues, needs, and power of the disability community in this region.
Methods and Tech
Through practical training in community-based research and program development, students will gain skills in interdisciplinary research and practice, and authentic community engagement and partnerships that will prepare them for real-world practice in their own disciplines. Students will learn to be advocates for inclusive and equitable practices through a cultural and disability lens. Experiences will provide opportunity to deepen their investment and networks in the local community through engagement with our partners and programs on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Digital storytelling that encompasses podcasts, video, and other media will be used as a vehicle for storytelling pieces that are shared, analyzed, and developed into data storytelling.
Academic Majors of Interest
Open to all majors and minors, with particular interest in disability and/or the health, social, and life sciences, including:
- Anthropology
- American Indian Studies
- Communications
- Gender & Women’s Studies
- General/Special Education
- Geography, Development & Environment
- Human Development & Family Science
- Medicine/Pre-Medicine
- Mexican American Studies
- Neuroscience/Cognitive Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Rehabilitative Counseling
- Social Work
- Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory
- Sociology
Preferred Interests and Preparation
Attributes:
- Interest in disability and/or intersectionality
- Interest or experience in research
- Ability to travel to Mexico (travel is required)
- Availability for meetings and activities on some evenings and weekends
Skills:
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish, English/ASL, English/Mexican Sign Language)
- Research experience preferred (not required)
- Basic computer/technology skills
Application Process
Interested students can email Celina Urquidez (celinau@arizona.edu(link sends e-mail)) to inquire.
About Vertically Integrated Projects
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is a transformative approach to higher education that engages undergraduate and graduate students in ambitious, long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams. VIP teams are led by faculty, using a model that has been rigorously evaluated and refined for more than two decades at participating campuses in the U.S. and internationally.
At the University of Arizona, VIP team leaders represent more than a dozen colleges and campus units, providing research, design and service learning opportunities to students from all majors and programs. Visit uavip.arizona.edu to learn more.
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