Future Past: Disability, Eugenics, and Brave New Worlds

A public symposium on the history and ongoing implications of eugenic ideologies and practices for people with disabilities is taking place on November 1, 2013 in San Francisco. Program 9am-5pm: Panels and discussion groups Welcoming remarks: Provost Sue Rosser, San Francisco State University and Catherine Kudlick, Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability Panel 1: WHAT? Eugenics and Disability: Past and Present An overview of the symposium’s focus: the history of eugenics movements in North America, and why they are disturbingly relevant today Presenters: Alexandra Minna Stern, Marcy Darnovsky, Glenn Sinclair, Nicola Fairbrother Panel 2: SO WHAT? The Consequences of Misremembering Eugenics What are the social and ethical consequences of omitting eugenics from historical memory or misrepresenting it? What is the price of the pursuit of “human betterment” for reproductive and disability justice? Presenters: Rob Wilson, Troy Duster, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Marsha Saxton (moderator) Panel 3: NOW WHAT? Looking Ahead to Brave New Worlds What is being done – and what can be done – to increase public and student understanding of the legacies of eugenics through teaching, activism and art? Presenters: Gregor Wolbring, Milton Reynolds, Kate Wiley, Patricia Berne 5-6:30pm: Dinner and reception Where: San Francisco State UniversitySeven Hill Conference Center When: November 1, 2013 – 9am-8pm Registration is free but space is limited. Please contact Emily Beitiks at 415-405-3528 or email beitiks[AT]sfsu[DOT]edu