Well put. As an academic and someone from a working class background, the
comments about too many e-mails etc where ill thought through on a site that
should accommodate as many ways of communicating as possible from as many
backgrounds.
There is a tendency in those ( who will remain nameless) who criticised
ColRevs to throw in one line comments as if they hold some kind of wisdom
that is sparingly thrown to the masses, believing in values that are
inherently 'normalising' without even questioning it. No wonder Colin got
angry when he could see the 'normalising' values going on in the responses
to his e-mails.
Although, I have to admit there were a lot of emails, and I don't really
know much about the subject he talks about, does it really take that much
time to delete them? If people find it tiresome to simply delete these
e-mails, then how can they talk, write and discuss research about disabled
people who often take more time to do things, and do things in a different
way in order to get through life.
This debate really showed up a lot of hypocrisy in some of those who
criticised Colin, and their inability to accommodate difference in the way
we present and dicuss issues on this site. I wish to see a variety of
players on this site, not just academics like myself, and eitquette is not
important to me. Fresh ways of thinking, a sense of urgency and passion, and
allowing people to be free in their expression are curial to research, so we
are not slaves to our pasts.
It is fascinating that the site chugs along and then Pow! - a real debate
blows up and some of the core issues about the politics of reseach into
disability are at the forefront of people's minds. That's good research -
lots of debate and passion about who gets what, when and where. An urgency
that academics forget.
Glenn
Dr Glenn Smith,
Research Fellow,
London.
-----Original Message-----
From: Derick Bird
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 23/08/04 16:04
Subject: Re: respect for research
It needs to be clarified whether this list is solely for academics
involved in disability research or whether it is also open to disabled
service users as well
I find it ironic, especially as the new academic year is about to start,
that efforts are being made by academics to accommodate the individual
needs of prospective disabled students but on this list a person with an
inherent impairment has been attacked.
This means the diversity of disability cannot be accommodated on this
list. It means the various individual coping mechanisms and skills of
disability cannot be accommodated. It means that if an intellectual
ability does not measure up to the standards set (?by whom - the
majority?) they should be excluded.
Colin has made some very positive contributions to this list and only
last week posted the following : From the Social Care Institute for
Excellence (SCIE) website at following
link :- http://www.scie.org.uk/
This posting enabled the forwarding to other lists of disabled people
where they have been able to complete the on-line questionnaire as
service users to make a positive contribution to their care which they
depend upon. This is true empowerment which I thought academics have
been researching for some considerable time.
Owing to his impairment, Colin may not be able to collate all the
information he gathers in one coherent email as has been requested.
Very often disability/impairment imposes limitations and capabilities on
an ability to perform tasks.
Surely this is recognised by academics which now beggars the question
why Colin has been alienated for his admirable efforts and now
'excluded'? It is rather sad that tolerance and understanding has not
been demonstrated of an impairment on a disability egroup.
Many disabled people feel disempowered and the various modes of attack
levied at Colin can only serve to reinforce the feeling of
disempowerment where those disabled people on this list will, in future,
perhaps be fearful of making a comment or further contributing for fear
of a similar attack.
Derick
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