I read the article by Cassuto with a growing sense of disbelief. Has
he never heard of Britain let alone the substantial work we have
already done on the relationship between disability and research, as
well as disability studies more generally.
The world's leading disability studies journal began publishing in
Britain in 1986 and in 1992 we devoted a whole edition on disability
research.This has been taken further in publications by Barnes and
Mercer (1997), Barton and Clough (1996. 1999) and Moore et al (1998).
As well as that Stone and Priestley made a contribution to the debate
in the British Journal of Sociology (1996).
More generally Jenny Morris has reflected extensively on the
relationshipship between her impairment and her work as have I
drawing on the ideas of Gramsci and his work on organic and
positional intellectuals.
The position Cassuto takes on self-identification is untenable in
British disability studies because of the close connection between
disability studies and the movement. Put simply, disabled people
would just not tolerate it.
Is Cassuto's position paper a true reflection on the state (and I use
the term advisedly) of American disability studies? If so, what are
American scolars trying to do - pursue their own careers, re-invent
the wheel or intellectually masturbate each other?
Perhaps we should discuss that!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|