Disability, Invisible and Visible, in the Wake of COVID-19
Guest editors:
Marni Brown, Georgia Gwinnett College
Samantha Nousak, Kent State University
Tiffany Taylor, Kent State University
Disability has long been a neglected area of sociological research. In the wake of COVID-19, however, disability and health have never been a more salient issue for us to discuss. The number of individuals with disabilities–many invisible disabilities–is dramatically increasing as COVID-19 leaves permanent heart, lung, and immunological damage in its victims. Accommodations are at the forefront of everyone’s minds as we adapt to the new constraints of pandemic life. More people than ever have been confronted with how health shapes their lives, and how their health intersects with their positionality. The time to evaluate our society’s relationship to, treatment of, and accommodations for disabilities and to look ahead to where we go from here is now.
Due to the urgency of this social problem, which lies at the intersection of multiple identities, and the unique insights and applications of the sociological imagination, we are calling for accessible papers from sociology and related disciplines that can address important issues around disability, especially in light of the current global pandemic. These papers may involve new empirical research, theoretical developments, or literature informed arguments. We envision work in this volume can be used in classes, in workplace applications, and in policy applications. We specifically welcome work addressing issues of invisible disabilities and work that is intersectional. Scholars with disabilities are especially encouraged to submit their work.
Topics can include, but certainly are not limited to:
- How is Covid-19 being handled in healthcare and other social institutions such as K-12 schools, Universities, and the family
- Disability and policy
- Classes (e.g., how has Covid impacted our teaching)
- Virtual school for K-12 children
- Intersectional approaches and perspectives to disability
- Invisible and visible disabilities
- Disability as a major status
Submission Guidelines: This Special Issue is with the peer-reviewed academic journal Sociation. Please make sure to follow the proper guidelines and format as required by the journal. You can find this information here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200712073947/https://sociation.ncsociologyassoc.org/submission-guidelines/submission-guidelines/
If you are interested in submitting a paper to this special issue, please submit an abstract, no longer than 500 words, to the editors at sociation.disability.covid@gmail.com by March 15th, 2021 for consideration. Decisions to invite a paper for consideration to the special issue will be made by March 30th. Invited full papers should then be submitted by June 30th, 2021.
In your abstract, please make sure to include the following:
- How your paper fits with the ongoing narrative and themes as described in the CFP
- What literature you plan to engage in your paper
Finally, please be sure to include:
- A working title and keywords for your paper
- Specification on the sub-community you are passionate about or intend to study
- Keywords that hit on the major components of your paper
Please direct all correspondence, including any questions or requests for additional information, to sociation.disability.covid@gmail.com to reach any of the three editors.
Guest Editor Bios:
Marni Brown is currently an associate professor of Sociology at Georgia Gwinnett College. Here, she serves as chair of the faculty for the Human Development and Aging Services program as well as faculty senate vice president. She is also involved with the Southern Sociological Society, serving as a past executive committee member, and has been elected as vice president for 2023. Marni has also served as vice president and president of the Sociologists for Women in Society- South chapter.
Samantha Nousak is a graduate student at Kent State University. She serves as a Kent State of Wellness Ambassador, is involved in other health promotion and educational efforts, and is a co-founder of #ProfTalks, a prison education initiative.
Tiffany Taylor is Professor of Sociology and Undergraduate Coordinator at Kent State University. She has also served as Vice President and President of Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) and is an incoming Executive Committee Member for the Southern Sociological Society. She has also been an active member of SWS-South, including serving as Awards Chair.
