About the Team

The Critical Design Lab is a collaborative of disabled people who use remote access to collaborate across four countries and multiple time zones. When the pandemic began, our Remote Access: crip nightlife parties (led by DJ Who Girl/Kevin Gotkin) created spaces for remote connection. The parties also showcased disabled community expertise in live streaming, audio descriptions, digital technology, and more. But these events left us wondering about the history of remote access.

In 2021, the Critical Design Lab began to archive photos, documents, art, and stories of remote access. With funding from the Social Science Research Council, we asked our friends, social media communities, and professional networks to submit their stories. Then, with funding from the National Science Foundation, we expanded our outreach to more organizations, communities, and individuals.

Between 2021 and 2023, our research team conducted 45 oral history interviews, collected numerous archival documents, and met with our advisory board to discuss the project.

Team/Credits

• Co-Primary Investigator: Aimi Hamraie
• Co-Primary Investigator/Project Manager: Kelsie Acton

Research Team

• Max Airborne
• Ren Aguila
• Cavar
• Margot Bell
• Carmen Cutler
• Avianna Miller
• Jiya Pandya
• Martina Svyantek
• Amery Wyn Sanders

Advisory Board

• Max Airborne
• Moya Bailey
• Gracen Brilmeyer
• Mara Mills
• Corbett O'Toole
• Bess Williamson
• Jaipreet Virdi
• Hannah Zeavin