Ashlyn C. Walden

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies and an Affiliate Faculty member in Health & Medical Humanities. Informed by lived experience with chronic illness and informal caregiving, my research investigates the intersections of health communication, disability public policy/advocacy, collective access, digital rhetoric, and critical pedagogy. Specifically, my work explores how accessible media design and qualitative narrative inquiry facilitate identity shifts, caregiver agency, and systemic support during health transitions and lived experiences of disability. My research translates mixed-methods inquiry on informal caregiving into community-focused resources that help individuals validate their lived experiences, navigate care transitions, and access vital support across personal, public, and educational contexts. Other peer-reviewed scholarship and co-authored work—including projects on accessible course design and multimodal media—center on inclusive pedagogy, disability advocacy, collective access, and supporting caregivers through accessible design and narrative inquiry.

Research Interests

Health communication, disability public policy/advocacy, collective access, informal caregiving, accessible digital/multimodal design, and critical/inclusive pedagogy.

HHUM Core Course

HHUM 4800: Health & Medical Humanities Portfolio Capstone