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Just my ten cents before heading out of the office this evening: As an academic researcher with a learning disability, I'm honestly chagrined with the insular approach to research taken by many in this recent discussion. Although I understand Larry's frustration, I also think that we need to acknowledge that disability is a complex phenomenon that lends itself to many perspectives. Although disability studies is built upon the same theoretical foundations as women's studies and race/cultural studies, it's important to remember that gender, race, and culture are more concrete cultural structures than disability. I know that I'm opening myself up to all sorts of critiques by saying this...but I can't become, black, Asian, or even a woman; but I can become a person with a disability...or I can acquire another disability beyond the one I already have. We all can...the experience of being human is the experience of becoming or fighting against becoming disabled. Thus it seems to me that the phenomenon of disability is an area that should be more open and accepting of a diversity of perspectives since disability is one of the few shared areas of human experience that cuts across age, race, gender, class, etc. Now, I'm not arguing for the medical model here, although I think that the medical model, despite it's patriarchal hegemonic view of ability, has added much to what we currently understand about disability...BUT it needs to be counterbalanced and, if possible, superseded by a more rational view of human diversity. Matt Larry Arnold wrote: > Bollox me old pal me old beauty you justify it thus, but if it were you who were offended I think > you would not be so forgiving, > > So authentic voices always take second place because the middle class intelligentsia are always more > likely to be taken seriously because they have a social contract we do not. > > That is giving in to Nanny knows best. > > It really stinks and you are all blind to it in your own security. > > How far have you travelled? And in which direction > > A bloody big circle I think, where you are all now the pigs who walk on two legs. > > Larry > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of >> [log in to unmask] >> Sent: 24 June 2008 22:15 >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: who should do the research? >> >> I strongly agree with Allan on this point. >> >> Surely the over all point of all writing, be it articles, >> books, movies etc is to bring about an understanding of what >> is going on. >> Parents, and anyone else should be able to communicate from >> their prospective. We should value that contribution to understanding. >> >> It has however to be made clear from what perspective or >> relationship the author is coming from. >> >> Keith >> >> >> My new videos can been seen at >> >> <http://www.putfile.com/yourcamden/media> >> >> <http://www.youtube.com/user/yourcamden> >> >> <http://www.myspace.com/kaamden> >> >> <http://www.veoh.com/users/yourcamden> >> >> > > ________________End of message________________ > > This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). > Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] > > Archives and tools are located at: > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html > You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page. > > -- Matthew Wappett Ph.D. Assistant Professor: Interdisciplinary Training Coordinator University of Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development 129 West Third St. Moscow, ID 83843 Phone: (208) 885-3038 Fax: (208) 885-3628 www.idahocdhd.org ________________End of message________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.