 |
 |
Hi I'm forwarding the following message from Tom for information but would be grateful if list members could refrain from continuing the conversation here (at least in any manner that might be construed as flaming). It's not the purpose of this list. Can I also remind everyone that discussions on the list are public and very widely read. They should be conducted within established netiquette (and of with a view to the law of slander and libel). Best wishes Mark (list administrator) -----Original Message----- From: Tom Shakespeare [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 15 October 2002 17:48 To: Mark Priestley Subject: Fw: disability research Dear disability research friends and colleagues, I notice that I have been rather viciously flamed on this list. Can I just put the record straight on a couple of points? 1. Restricted Growth Association is one of those interesting voluntary groups which includes both parents of disabled people, disabled children, and disabled adults. It is not a radical disability movement organisation, but it does lots of good work, and needs all the support it can get. Over the years, I have written various articles for the RGA Newsletter on disability rights themes, gently trying to broaden the perspective. None could be called post-modernist! I was also proud to have persuaded the organisation to affiliate to British Council of Disabled People, as a majority disabled-controlled group. 2. 'Shortlist' is an email discussion group of people affected by restricted growth which I moderate with a colleague - a very progressive professional disabled woman of the highest integrity. As with all email lists, we have had problems with flaming, and with off topic messages. We welcome all posts connected with restricted growth, including political discussion, but we want to avoid general disability rights or political chat, because other lists exist for that kind of thing. We are having a great thread at the moment about our participants objection to negative representation of people with restricted growth on TV, so it would not be accurate to suggest that this was an apolitical forum. As a result of problems and personal offence caused to members, we reluctantly converted to a moderated list recently, not so we can suppress debate, but so we can avoid personal insults and pointless argument. This was in response to demands from the membership, whom we have surveyed on several occasions. 3. With a colleague, I am currently involved in a research proposal to explore the lives of people with restricted growth, both medical and social dimensions. This research is managed by the Restricted Growth Association, and I would be happy to explain more about our aims and methodology off list. As always, I am happy to answer any queries about my work, off list. I stand by my record in disability studies and disability rights, and if people have rational comments or criticisms to make, I am always pleased to receive them. Many people have questioned and challenged me, which I welcome. A few have directed personal and unfounded abuse at me, just as they have at other 'tall poppies', which I believe should have no place on a list like this, or indeed in the wider disability community. Tom Shakespeare [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] ; [log in to unmask] Sent: 15 October 2002 11:30 Subject: Shortlist Dwarfs in Entertainment <Dr Mike Wright (a clinical geneticist) and I (a sociologist) are planning a research project, hopefully in partnership with RGA, which would explore the social and medical experience of adults with restricted growth..Tom Shakespeare>> Amongst other things, I was involved in the British restricted growth community at a grass roots level, at least, 10 years before Tom Shakespear was born. I have read his work at an academic level. Over at least the last 10 years or something he has written many, telling-it-how-it-is-going-no-where post modernism type articles for the Restricted Growth Association newsletter. For a number of years he was policy adviser for the Restricted Growth Association. http://www.rgaonline.org.uk/ (Where?) As we know he has made many appearances, "supporting our rights", on UK television and so on. Why has he chosen one of the most unpoliticised and unmotivated members of the UK restricted growth community, discussion list, to Co-Moderate the list? All emails have to "pass through" this Co-Moderator to access the list - the gatekeeper. Very convenient, it seems. As a consequence of this, many debates (small d) around diversity, neuro-diversity, cultural issues, bioethics?? human rights, are stiffled and discouraged on the list. Also, as a consequence of the strict moderation rules, the current contributors are indeed a very powerful reflection of the mainstream, elitist and paternalistic UK Restricted Growth Association membership. His research is also in consultation with the Restricted Growth Association. No one seems to have the disability politics or power within the restricted growth community to publicly (or privately on the list) question him, his work, his ethical thinking or background, (and I don't just mean question negatively) as anyone would with any researcher or question his position as list owner of Shortlist, although it is evident that some members are unhappy about the situation. I have come a long way and have seen too much to let this one go. Whose side is he really on? The oppressed or the oppressors? Will his research help improve the lives of short people within the UK or will it just be another piece of, self promoting, academic, rhetoric rubbish, which doesn't go anywhere or change anything - again? Liz Fetes HRAaA (there you go Tom am I still an embarrassment to the disability movement?) My apologise to use this forum for this everyone and it doesn't please me at all, but there was no other way to bring this issue regarding UK human rights and restricted growth into political accountability and therefore into an open forum. ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page. ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.