Dear friends and colleagues
I am very sad to say that Mairian Scott-Hill passed away last Thursday, January 22. Mairian had battled cancer in the adrenal gland for some time. She had been patient at St Margaret's Hospice in Taunton since early November. Mairian's passing comes only a few months after her partner Janet Scott-Hill died as a result of a brain haemorrhage, on the 21st of September.
It's impossible to describe Mairian's contributions to disability studies. She not only wrote books such as "Deaf and Disabled or Deafness Disabled?", "Counselling: The Deaf Challenge" and "Deaf Transitions: Images and Origins of Deaf Families, Deaf Communities and Deaf Identities", she co-edited "Disability Discourse" with Sally French, and "Disability/Postmodernity" with Tom Shakespeare. More importantly, you can get a real sense of her personal commitment to the field by reading any of her postings to the various disability discussion lists. She was a passionate, articulate, independent thinker with one of the most brilliant minds I have ever come across.
When I first met Mairian, she was known as Mairian Corker. She took Janet's surname as a symbol of their lasting commitment to each other. I remember seeing her email that described her decision to change her name, and just admiring how much love they shared. I also remember Mairian sending me a photo of her birthday party a few years ago - and both she and Janet looked so happy - an ideal picture of love. I treasure that memory of their relationship.
Mairian and Janet came to Australia a few years ago, and when I heard she was coming, I travelled interstate to hear her. She spoke at 2 different places, Sydney and Canberra, and I was a fan, so I followed her to both places. Not that I was uncritical - she and I often had emails where we dissected each other's arguments and comments - but I did admire her, both for her mind, and for her principles. She was very honest and brave intellectually.
Mairian is irreplaceable.
I will post more details when I find out about them.
Sincerely,
Mark Sherry
Mark Sherry Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Chicago Institute for Disability Research
Department of Disability and Human Development
University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 626)
1640 W. Roosevelt Rd. #236
Chicago, IL 60608-6904
U.S.A.
Ph: 312 952 3126
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