The Disability Culture Activism Lab: Hands-On Learning About Disability Justice
What Is DCAL?
The Disability Culture Activism Lab (DCAL) is housed under the department of art therapy and counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). DCAL is a platform for creative advocacy projects and disability allyship training. In partnership with Access Living’s Arts and Culture Project, DCAL provides teaching and hands-on learning through disability justice–a framework that examines disability in connection to other forms of oppressions and identities. Using a peer support and collective care model, disability community members and SAIC art therapy graduate students collaborate as disability culture makers for social change.