Accessibility Isn’t Optional: Building Inclusive Classrooms with Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch

08/09/2025 42 min Temporada 3 Episodio 2

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Episode Synopsis

How do we move beyond trying to “fix” a system that was never fully accessible—and instead reimagine education to truly include everyone?In this episode of The Educator Experience Podcast, Salli Carter speaks with Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch, a disabled researcher, musician, sessional instructor and scholar-In-Residence, St. John’s College, University of British Columbia in the Department of Theatre and Film. With a rich background in Critical Disability Studies, Music, and Pedagogy, Stefan frames the conversation around the urgent need to create inclusive and accessible classrooms that center humanity.Stefan brings in references from Naomi Klein’s book Doppelganger and Daniel Heath Justice’s paper “Demanding Kinder Classrooms”, grounding the conversation in critical frameworks that may be new to many listeners but are transformative for teaching practice.Together, they explore:✨ Access friction—how accommodating one access need can unintentionally create barriers for others.✨Online Spaces & Lessons from COVID-19 ✨ Reimagining teaching and learning spaces✨ The value of engaging deeply with disability studies as an educatorAt its heart, this conversation asks educators to reflect on how we can change—not just our individual classrooms, but the culture of higher education itself—so that inclusivity isn’t an afterthought, but the foundation.Check out Stefan's Youtube account with more of his work here: https://youtube.com/@stefanhonisch9682?si=a-mgy_nfcyji4bBKPDF Read Daniel Heath Justice's Paper "Demanding Kinder Classrooms Doesn't Make You a Snowflake" https://scope.bccampus.ca/pluginfile.php/70505/mod_resource/content/1/Demanding%20Kinder%20Classrooms%20Daniel%20Heath%20Justice.pdf