Wed Jan 07 05:33:56 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Jadavpur University’s ‘Crip Lit’ Card Game Aims to Integrate Disability into Mainstream Literary Studies

The Story:

Jadavpur University’s Department of English has designed a board game called ‘Crip Lit’ to bring disability to the forefront of literary education and discussions. Funded by the Global Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation, the card game features disabled authors and uses tactile cues such as Braille and raised portraits to accommodate players with visual disabilities. The game challenges ableist literary curricula by requiring players to match authors based on time period, disability, gender, and sexual orientation, and includes “power cards” featuring queer and transgender disabled figures to challenge assumptions about power dynamics.

Ishan Chakraborty, an Assistant Professor at the Department of English and the game’s designer, explained that ‘Crip Lit’ aims to address the historical exclusion of disabled literary figures from mainstream curricula, advocating for their inclusion in all literature courses, not just in specialized modules. The game’s name itself is a reclamation of the derogatory term “crippled.”

Key Points:

  • ‘Crip Lit’ is a card game designed by Jadavpur University’s Department of English.
  • The game is funded by the Global Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation.
  • It aims to integrate disability into mainstream literary studies by featuring disabled authors.
  • Tactile cues like Braille, raised portraits, and embossed text are incorporated for players with visual disabilities.
  • The game includes “power cards” featuring queer and transgender disabled figures.
  • Ishan Chakraborty emphasizes the need to move beyond the limited representation of disabled authors like John Milton and Helen Keller.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ‘Crip Lit’ card game is a significant initiative promoting inclusivity and representation within literary studies.
  • It challenges traditional, ableist curricula by highlighting the contributions of disabled authors often overlooked.
  • The project leverages game-based learning to raise awareness and foster understanding of disability in a collaborative and engaging way.
  • The reclamation of the term “crippled” in the game’s title reflects a broader movement of disability pride and empowerment.
  • This initiative from Jadavpur University signals a growing recognition of the importance of intersectionality, particularly the intersection of disability, queerness, and transgender identity, in academic discourse.

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