Photographic Exploration of Accessibility: A Collaborative Pedagogical Approach to Understanding Disability in Education.

This presentation explores how visual methodologies, particularly photography, can be utilised to engage MA students in critical, collaborative, and democratic learning processes. As part of my course Sociocultural Issues in Education at the European University Cyprus, students were tasked with adopting the perspective of individuals with disabilities and documenting the "architecture of disability" within their everyday environments, such as schools and public spaces. This experiential approach brought the "outside world" into the classroom, facilitating a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the implications for educational accessibility.

The analysis examines the pedagogical impact of using photography as a tool for visual research within an educational setting that emphasizes collaboration and democratization. Through capturing, sharing, and analyzing photographs, students engaged in discussions that highlighted the intersections between physical spaces and social barriers. The collaborative nature of this assignment, where students worked in groups to select and analyze images, fostered a participatory learning environment that mirrors democratic practices in decision-making.

This session will delve into the theoretical underpinnings of this visual approach, the methodologies employed, and the outcomes achieved. Additionally, it will address the challenges and advantages of using photography to explore educational experiences, focusing on how this visual methodology can illuminate both participatory and exclusionary dynamics within educational spaces. By reflecting on these processes, this presentation aims to contribute to the broader discourse on democratizing education through innovative research practices that emphasize horizontality, reciprocity, and mutuality.