Towards Inclusion: Advancing Disability Studies in China Through Language and Culture

To promote academic exchanges and collaboration concerning disability issues in the realms of language, literature, and culture both nationally and internationally, Nanjing Normal University of Special Education in Jiangsu Province, China, convened an academic conference on December 14-15. The conference focused on the theme “Building a Community with a Shared Future: Language, Literature, and Disability Studies.”

The event examined a variety of topics related to disability-centric language, literature, and cultural studies research. Over 40 distinguished scholars, professors, and academics contributed to the discourse. Notable participants included Professor Zhou Da, Vice President of the Chinese Poetry Society; Michael Bérubé, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Literature at Pennsylvania State University; Professor Dr. Martin Woesler, a German sinologist and cultural scientist; and Esther Pascual, Associate Research Professor at the Institute of Language Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University. These eminent figures, alongside other respected Chinese academicians, have significantly advanced research and education for individuals with special needs and children with disabilities.

Additionally, Dr. Ani Margaryan, an Armenian scholar and Diaspora Youth Ambassador of the Armenian community in China, participated in the conference. She presented her research on art therapy, emphasizing its vital characteristics and underscoring the therapeutic potential of artistic practices in supporting individuals with disabilities.