This book chapter is part of an important text within Canadian Disability Studies. Rethinking Normalcy: a disability studies reader edited by Tanya Titchkosky and Rod Michalko (2009). This is the first Canadian disability studies reader from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives and draws on primary Canadian but also some international scholars. The critical perspectives in this book examine not only dominant views of disability but interrogate what is meant by normal. The specific chapter makes clear that different bodies, in different spaces engage in the world in various ways that are not seen as “normal” by abled-bodied conventions but are usual to those who see themselves as … [Read more...] about Karen Yoshida – The normality of doing things differently – 30DoS #17
Thomas Abrams – Dis/Abling Practices – 30DoS #13
“Disabling Practices” applies a science and technology studies lens to Disability Studies and the sociology of blindness. Drawing on ethnographic work in the North of England, Schillmeier follows the disclosure of visual disability in currency use, how relations between human bodies and money technologies cause visual disability to emerge. The emphasis moves from problem bodies to problem relations. Dis/ability is not solely in bodies or in barriers—as the social or medical models would have it—but unfolds in the interaction between bodies, senses and things (the subtitle of Schillmeier, 2010, integrating this 2007 article). I first read Schillmeier’s work in my M.A. research, in … [Read more...] about Thomas Abrams – Dis/Abling Practices – 30DoS #13
Catherine Sykes – The ICF – 30DoS #10
Published in 2001 the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has stimulated a change in understanding of what is understood as human functioning and the role of the environment in the experience of functioning. I was involved in the development of ICF and have continued to work on the implementation of the model and classifications in health and social welfare data collections. Whilst the model has informed the education and practice of physical therapists the adoption of the classification for statistics has been slow. Why? Some argue that it is too detailed, too complicated. The key to ICF is to keep the individual as the … [Read more...] about Catherine Sykes – The ICF – 30DoS #10
Barbara Gibson – Embodying the monster – 30DoS #6
In this post, CPN co-founder and Exec member Barbara Gibson talks about Margrit Shildrick's book Embodying the monster. Spanish translation provided by CPN Exec member Alma Viviana Silva. Embodying the Monster is a feminist postmodern and historical reading of the monstrous body and the Western desire to eliminate aberration and vulnerability. Drawing on cultural theory, biomedical discourse and multiple historical and contemporary examples, Shildrick eloquently argues for a reconceived ethics of the body (and disability) that accepts the irreducible vulnerability of all persons. I was fortunate to take a course with Dr. Shildrick when she was in Canada and this book was our core … [Read more...] about Barbara Gibson – Embodying the monster – 30DoS #6
See Me Before You go
The title of this blogpost is a rather poor effort at a catchy streamline I grant you, but the message in no way belies what is an important issue for physiotherapists, health professions, or anyone who cares about the way disabled people are portrayed in the popular media. There has been some serious criticism of the new English film Me Before You in recent days. The film portrays a millionaire disabled man, played by non-disabled actor Sam Claflin, who strikes up a relationship with his carer, Emilia Clarke, after being paralysed in an accident. The depiction of a man with so much, wanting to die, has enraged some disability rights activists because it offers yet another negative … [Read more...] about See Me Before You go
Disabled physiotherapists – Karen Atkinson comment
Earlier this week we asked Karen Atkinson, CPN member, Physiotherapy Professional Lead at University of Hertfordshire, and contributor to the Project Advisory Group that helped produce the WCPT's recent briefing paper Access to physical therapist entry level education and practice for persons with disabilities, to comment on the paper and provide some background. Karen has longstanding expertise in supporting disabled students and qualified professionals during their education and employment and real insights into the process that made this important report possible. Karen kindly provided us with the following overview: As someone who has worked to support disabled students and qualified … [Read more...] about Disabled physiotherapists – Karen Atkinson comment
WCPT advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in physiotherapy profession
Last week, the WCPT unveiled its latest briefing paper titled Access to physical therapist entry level education and practice for persons with disabilities. This paper and supporting resources are significant, not only for their critical and radical statements on the relationship between physiotherapists and people with disabilities, but also because they situate one of the profession's leading advocacy organisations in the position of critiquing physiotherapy's longstanding atheism towards disability rights. Physiotherapists have long paid lip-service to the idea that they advocate for the rights of disabled people, but have systematically excluded disabled people from training (with … [Read more...] about WCPT advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in physiotherapy profession