The vision for UK physiotherapy from csp.org.uk on Vimeo. The CSP has just released a new video titled The vision for UK physiotherapy, which is in a similar vein, and follows closely on from the Physiotherapy Associate of British Colombia's recent Choose to move video, which I wrote about recently (link), and the APTA's call for a 'transformative year in physical therapy (link). Each of these calls carry a similar message about the transformative possibilities of physiotherapy and the importance of physiotherapists reaching beyond the narrow confines of the body-as-machine. It's hugely significant that physiotherapists are now recognising this and seeing that unless they can connect … [Read more...] about Is this really a vision for physiotherapy?
Walking, disability rights and embodiment (video feat. Judith Butler & Sanaura Taylor)
In this short video, Judith Butler explores the lived experience and some of the social and political dimensions of disability with Sanaura Taylor in a walk through the streets of San Francisco. During the walk they challenge the normative definition of the idea of walking and talk about how disability is often projected on to people by our stereotypical attitudes. One of the things that really moved me was their discussion of the normality of obtaining help from people. This feeds into one of the growing critiques of Western culture - and we see it coming through really strongly in health care, particularly when funding cuts are being made - and that is that we should not be looking … [Read more...] about Walking, disability rights and embodiment (video feat. Judith Butler & Sanaura Taylor)
Some notes on dependance and independence
From Jonathan Harvey I am writing this brief note from my hospital bed. I have broken an ankle following a slip and am having an open reduction, internal fixation operation to fix my Fibula bone later today. Eleven years ago, I had a brain injury which was far more serious, and during that time and for several years after, I required a fair amount of care and support. Being in hospital again has made think carefully about the issues of dependence, independence and interdependence. In particular this experience has reminded me of the problematic way I conceptualise the importance of independence and how I view dependence as something to be avoided at all costs. I would argue that the … [Read more...] about Some notes on dependance and independence