 |
 |
mmm... it's a well trodden debate but my own view, for what it's worth, is that it's more helpful to think about social model analysis as a tool to expose the oppression experienced by people with 'perceived impairments' or people 'labelled as having impairments' (since impairment is itself a social construct). The definition and labelling of impairment is critical to the process of disablement - a long standing technique of surveillance or governance that has a real impact on people's lives (e.g. influencing decisions about which schools people attend, where they live, if and where they are employed, whether they can be parents, whether they should live or die, etc.). In a social world constructed and governed around shifting expectations of normality those impairment labels change over time and in response to changes in the social relations of production and reproduction (hence disability changes too). From a social model perspective it would be the construction and regulation of human normality and social norms that gives rise to disabling barriers (e.g. norms developed in response to the emergence of capitalism, industrialization, modernity, cultural imperialism, nationalism, eugenics, medicalisation, etc.). Understanding how this kind of labelling takes place, the assumptions on which it is based, and the impact it then has on people's lives seems pretty consistent with social model analysis as far as I can see. I don't think it necessarily requires a belief that anyone actually 'has an impairment', whatever that is (!), as an individual property (e.g. Carol Thomas' book?). Sara is right about learning differences for example. From a social model perspective, understanding why some but not others are labeled as impairments (learning difficulties) exposes how institutions of learning and teaching fail to accommodate some differences. To take Sara's and Simon's points, the research literature on learning difficulties' seems to have taken this on board more thoroughly than other fields by often talking explicitly about 'people labelled as having learning difficulties' rather than 'people with learning difficulties' (a construction that has evolved radically over recent years to include many new labels and many new groups of people). PS. I found Hughes and Paterson's paper on the 'disappearing body' quite helpful in highlighting the risk of 'abandoning the body to medical science' by accepting fixed biophysical notions of impairment. Best wishes Mark -----Original Message----- From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Larry Arnold Sent: 31 August 2004 23:04 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: New Book Except of course that your version of the social model still discriminates because it contains the concept of impairment, which is a personal and as negative as any "word" and anglo centric linguistically. Oh well whats the point of trying to change and challenge peoples beliefs as they hang onto them anyway, Ossification would be a good word for it? if it weren't so latinate in construction. I leave you word people to it, you can't see beyond your personal constructs because you can't think beyond your language into anothers mind who thinks differently. Larry > -----Original Message----- > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Colin Barnes > Sent: 31 August 2004 07:39 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: New Book > > > Dear All > > I hope the following will be of nterest. It is the second in a > series of three books documenting contributions to seminars held > across the UK last year. > > Colin Barnes > > ญญญญญญญญญญ-------------------------------------------------------- > ----------------------------- > > Disability Policy and Practice: > Applying the Social Model > > Edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer > > > -----Original Message----- > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Colin Barnes > Sent: 31 August 2004 07:39 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: New Book > > > Dear All > > I hope the following will be of nterest. It is the second in a > series of three books documenting contributions to seminars held > across the UK last year. > > Colin Barnes > > ญญญญญญญญญญ-------------------------------------------------------- > ----------------------------- > > Disability Policy and Practice: > Applying the Social Model > > Edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer > > > 'Disability Policy and Practice: Applying the Social Model of > Disability' contains thirteen chapters on the application of > social model inspired thinking on social policy in Britain. The > contributors include established figures and newcomers to the > field. They raise a range of important issues and concerns > central to theorising and researching disability policy and > practice spanning employment, housing, higher education with > examples from England, Scotland, and Wales, social 'care', > independent living and leisure and social relations. Together > they provide ample evidence of the continuing relevance of > debates emanating from the social model of disability within > disability studies and related disciplines. This book will be of > particular interest to academics, researchers, professionals, > disabled people and lay audiences with an interest in disability > issues and the on going struggle for a more equitable and just society. > > Disability Policy and Practice: Applying the Social Model' is > also available on request at no additional cost on CD, in PDF > format, for ease of access for people who require alternative formats. > > The Book and CD are only available by mail order from the > > Centre for Disability Studies, > School of Sociology and Social Policy, > University of Leeds, > LS2 9JT > > at: ฃ16.50 including postage and packing (20% discount for orders > of four or more) > > Payment may be by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) via the > telephone, fax, email, or by cheque, payable to the University of > Leeds. To order contact Marie Ross on (44) 113 3434407 (tel. and > minicom), or (44) 113 3434415 (fax) by email: > [log in to unmask] or by post at the address above. > > ________________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. ________________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.