Hello Julia, you do raise an interesting point about long term illness
and the social model. I fail to see how we can (as researchers) ignore
the effects of a debilitating illness which progressively leads to a
further disablement of the individual. Although we are meant to be as
objective as possible and I do think students and researchers DO tie
themselves up in trying to eliminate all biases BUT we ARE influenced by
events directly affecting ourselves and that cannot be entirely ignored,
nor should it! I am presently in the throws of giving up full time work
(after 25 years of employment) because I am between the devil and the
deep blue sea regarding my long term health. Also because of my working
experience and occupational health pension, I am likely to be one of the
many people who may be hit by the Governments policies towards
Incapacity benefit as outlined in Richard Lights posting. Social
policies and politics directly affect our lives how can this be ignored?
Surely if research has to have any meaning at all it must be with a view
to influencing policy makers to educate and to reform society. Isn't
that what the initial research by Colin Barnes had on the 'disability
movement' which led (eventually) to the formation of the DDA. I am not
getting into the argument about the effectiveness of this here, but
merely using it as an illustration as a starting place.
I totally agree with Richard....
I have become convinced (mainly through this list) that we need to
account for the social model on two entirely different levels:
1) as a tool for change amongst a politicised disabled community (the
disability 'movement')
2) and as a predominantly theoretical tool.
The social model as a theoretical tool, surely will be refined at some
stage. This is a most useful model and has served a great purpose, but
can we honestly totally ignore illness especially where it is a
progressive debilitating illness which directly leads to a person
requiring more help to participate in society?
I hope your message provides some good comments for you and good luck
with the research.
In message <000901bf26a9$f16638c0$b0015cc3@dan>, Julia Cameron
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Hello - this is my first posting to this list. I have followed the discussion
>about how long-term illness fits (or doesnt) with the social model, and this
>issue is very much top of my own agenda at present. I am an MSc student doing
>my dissertation on employment and ME. I have ME myself and have been much
>influenced by the social model, but I am trying to incorporate elements of the
>emancipatory research paradigm in my project and this is leading to some
>contradictions.
>
>The research was initiated by me, not by a disabled group, but I have got
>together an advisory or steering group of three people with ME, all friends whom
>I know through a regional ME grouping. These three will oversee all aspects of
>the research. They have many doubts about the social model and do not find it
>satisfactory with a condition like ME, where pain and fatigue are often constant
>symptoms, and as much to be battled against as oppression. My research proposal
>has already undergone some alteration as a result.
>
>Thus, my attempt to work towards emancipatory research is likely to lead to me
>doing a piece of work which questions the social model! Perhaps I could have
>tried harder to find advisory committee members who were soc mod enthusiasts,
>but it was difficult finding anyone with ME who had the energy to get involved
>with this work.
>
>I have tried to present a positive picture of the social model as I am generally
>positive about it myself, but am finding it difficult to argue the case. These
>three women are, possibly totally unlike the normal guiding disabled group for
>disability research, from 'professional' backgrounds, with 2 PhDs amongst them.
>
>I think my research will be interesting partly because of this unusual
>dimension, and the debates we have will become part of the research focus.
>However, I am keen to receive the thoughts of experienced disability
>researchers.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Julia Cameron
--
Denise Webber
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