Larry, it wasn't a simple matter of physical impairment either - having a
chronic illness and dealing with the drugs used in transplantation can
sometimes impair cognition and was a big struggle at time...but PhD's have
been done using other techniques..in my PhD I used life stories which are
neither boring nor standard and aimed to engage with both academic and lay
audiences you are passionate about.
As for impairment - cognitively speaking - that depends on what those
inidvidual limitations are in terms of engaging with acaedmic writing - Yes,
a certain standard does have to be maintained just an in any walk of life,
since not all changes can be social. However, if the keeping of those
standards is based on some form of prejudice or discrimination that has
nothing to do with a persons impairment then you have every right to
complain.
Academia has in recent years embraced the role of emotion and different
cognitive capabalities of those who contribute - if there is prejudice to
your participation then challenge it - but if it an inability to accept
individual limitations accept them and try other ways to say what you want
to say without condeming the positive work that has resulted from disability
research and writing...
All the best
Glenn
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Arnold
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 07/03/03 18:43
Subject: Re: PhD Opportunities
That is fine, but if one is "cognitively" impaired then it is not such a
simple matter. (whoops somebody tell Larry he has just used the impaired
word which is a no no in his philosophy) Essentialy there are
Universities
that say if you cannot hack the academic work then you have no right to
be
there as standards have to be maintained.
If Larry can't write standard traditional boring academic prose, then
sod
him.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Smith, Glenn
> Sent: 07 March 2003 13:23
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: PhD Opportunities
>
>
> I really have to reply to these postings. I started my PhD on
> disability and
> chronic illness when my kidneys were failing. I had my transplant near
the
> end of my PhD. It was no easy task but I completed it. Academia
allowed me
> the flexibility and freedom to be indpendent with my condition,
> yet improved
> my life and understanding of disabled issues and the world that are
not
> easily understood or conveyed through practical activism. I wish
people
> would stop doing academia down - it has a place in understanding the
world
> and is often far from elitist - since it has historically allowed many
> different kinds of people a space from which to understand pain,
suffering
> and marginalisation in a sympathetic environment without the
> pressures of a
> commercially driven and practically led 'real' world. These PhD places
> should be seen as a great way promote the further incoporation and
> intellectual respect of disability studies and people with
impairments.
> Glenn
>
> Dr Glenn Smith,
> Research Fellow,
> London,
> NW3.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Derick Bird [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 07 March 2003 06:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: PhD Opportunities
>
>
> Sorry Mark but there really is no comparison.
>
> It simply is not possible to compare as if to place everyone with the
same
> disability like the lumpen proletariat because there are so many
different
> variables to consider.
>
> Different coping mechanisms. Lesion site and whether singular or
> clusters.
> Level of deterioration. Whether relapsing/remitting or whether
primary or
> secondary progressive. MS is a neurological degenerating disease
which
> debilitates in very different ways. The only common denominator
> is fatigue.
>
> But having MS was not the issue.
>
> Derick
>
> ________________End of message______________________
>
> Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
> are now located at:
>
> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
>
> You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
>
> ________________End of message______________________
>
> Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
> are now located at:
>
> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
>
> You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
>
________________End of message______________________
Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
are now located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
________________End of message______________________
Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
are now located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
|