Author

Chloe Wilson

Date Approved

3-14-2013

Date Posted

9-19-2013

Degree Type

Campus Only Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department or School

Teacher Education

Committee Member

Rebecca Martusewicz, Ed.D., Chair

Committee Member

Sally Burton-Hoyle, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Pamela K. Smith, Ph.D.

Abstract

Individuals who are labeled with dis/abilities are oppressed, marginalized, and devalued in Western industrial society. This domination is grounded in specific, historically-rooted perceptions and assumptions embedded in our language and value systems –– especially individualism and anthropocentrism. These are modern discourses that work to rationalize the denial of power and privilege to some through the illusion of the human as separate and superior to all other life. This work uses an EcoJustice Education approach to identify and challenge the ways in which constructions of dis/ability are informed by individualism and anthropocentrism. Textual discourse analysis is used in tracing how these discourses have framed constructions of dis/ability from the 1500s to the present.

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