As a disabled person and a researcher in a different field but with a
disability 'take' on things, I've also been interested in the
discussion. For me on a personal basis, I look at whether the
commentary, actions or expressed opinions of the individual 'further'
the cause of the disabled community, such as it is. As I truly only
have my own experience to measure things by, that is all I can use to
measure how 'appropriate' something is.
The non-disabled researcher might have a level of objectivity or
naivety that enables them to ask or re-ask questions that disabled
people take as fully answered. Conversely, the experience of the
disabled researcher has a level of insight and possibly trust by the
community that may elude non-disabled researchers. The key issue for
me is that disabled people's voices are heard, particularly those of
everyday non-academic disabled people and whether that is directly,
via disabled researchers and academics or via non-disabled researchers
or academics does not matter as long as the truth of their experiences
and voices are reflected. If the field of study becomes too precious
about this, then there is a danger that it might end up as us disabled
people just talking to ourselves.
Just throwing this out for discussion and having no strong view either
way, where in all this would people with acquired disabilities stand
as opposed to those with congenital impairments? Is the experience of
one more valid than the other? It is easy for me to sit on the fence
with this one as I have both acquired and congenital impairments.
Just my thoughts really.
Dave McQuirk
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