Queer connection, access, and identity: Investigating the lived experiences of queer, mad, mentally ill, neurodivergent, and/or disabled (MMIND) college students in higher education.

Abstract

This phenomenological study was designed to elevate the lived experiences of queer, mad, mentally ill, neurodivergent, and/or disabled (MMIND) college students in higher education. Little research exists which describes how queer MMIND college students survive often hostile environments in higher education. Even less research exists that explores how queer MMIND college students dream about accessible futures. Reddit was used to recruit 10 participants, or co-researchers, from the United States of America and Canada. Co-researchers engaged in three phenomenological interviews, which allowed opportunity to reflect on lived experience and to dream about an accessible future. Queer and crip theories were used to analyze the data and examine ways that co-researchers' experiences unsettled the status quo. Four major themes emerged: enrollment patterns, negotiating identity, navigating connections, and an accessible world. Co-researchers' experiences were informed by queer crip histories, lived in the queer crip present, and motivated by queer crip futures. This research provides higher education the ability to think differently about the future. First, higher education is complicit in creating heterosexist and ableist norms. Second, higher education uses systems of surveillance to control non-normative behavior. Finally, higher education can create accessible environments by letting go of non-queer, non-crip futures.