“Which door should I go through?” (In)visible intersections of race and disability in the academy

Institutional inclusivity and diversity have been an increasing focus of debate within the academy. For the discipline of geography and universities more broadly to become fully inclusive, greater attention is warranted within these debates upon the intersection of race and disability. Lack of debate on race-disability issues in the academy draws attention to the invisibility of disabled academics of BME backgrounds. Drawing upon examples of spaces of (mis)recognition and of indifference inside and outside the space of the British academy, this paper calls for greater attentiveness in geography and beyond to socio-cultural and spatial issues faced by ethnic minority disabled members of the university community which are otherwise hidden. A focus upon these hidden issues in research agendas, institutional practices and the academy more broadly is warranted to enable the university to strive towards greater inclusivity.