 |
 |
Larry I’m glad you’re not the only PhD in the village! I couldn’t agree more that language is a constant negotiation between clarity and usefulness (but that is often laden with meaning). On that point, in Ireland we are also increasing using the term ‘Someone with an Acquired Brain Injury’ to capture people who may have cognitive difficulties but don’t have a general learning difficulty. This came about because some people post-stokes/accidents/viral brain infections rejected the label of person with an ID (though others are indifferent to this usage). I haven’t studied why they reject this label but through correspondence with some it is because of implication or assumption of lack of capacity to make decisions with an ID label. Grainne From: The Disability-Research Discussion List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Larry Arnold Sent: 02 May 2018 22:12 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: request It is a problem which is all I can say though I probably won’t. It is the eternal struggle for language that is both accurate and also free of connotation, and that never happens. The ‘sacred’ social model falls apart in confusion, but one has to look back I expect to the origins of these various terms, how they were used, by who, and what they were intended to signify. Take the term learning disability. I may be wrong, but as I understand it, it originated in the USA, possibly the Orton society, I am a bit hazy in my dotage, as an alternative to the unpleasantly medical sounding “dyslexia” because of course it always sounds more medical in Greek unless that is your native language when it just means what it does. It was considered to be less stigmatising, although I am not sure that stigma was anything more than part of plant biology then, but I digress, the intention was as a euphemism, (more Greek) It’s meaning seemed to change the other side of the Atlantic, and elsewhere to what when I was growing up was called “backward” in French “en retard” or “late” to signify delayed intellectual development in general and for reasons, when, where and why I do not know. Difficulty was introduced initially as a euphemistic synonym for “disability” which of course meant handicap, which of course meant, and so on.. Problem number two, having just introduced the term “intellectual” what precisely does that mean? I mean we think we know (never mind cognates of) what cognition means, but then there is cogitation, all from the Latin this time and much via French I think in its introduction to English. Is to think, and to know different? I dunno? How would I am just an embodied mass of competing attention systems trying to establish some sort of homeostasis (oh dear more Greek) At the end of the day all of us only know and understand what we can, and that in itself mediated by what we are exposed to, and what has existed prior to that which has contributed to that status. How do you put that into Identity first speak? Language of course is not there to describe anything or attribute meaning in the sense of accuracy, it is there to give social meaning, and most of the time is just noise. If I listen to myself having gone live at this time of the evening on Facebook, you can tell how much of it is just filling and noise. Oh well, I am not a proper linguist since I have limited reading and no qualification whatsoever on the matter, but what I do suggest is that if you look a little more deeply into anything I have posted here, you will find a wealth of literature behind it somewhere though you might have to go outside of your native understanding of disability studies and away from the “bubble” to find it. In terms of talking about it, there is definitely more than one book to it, and not a subject you can really do justice to in a short email. I have not even touched the other deeply offensive terms, offensive not because the words are offensive but because of the thinking behind them and their origins is (are) that were introduced as categories during the “Age of reason” and on into the 19th century fascination and fixation upon taxonomies, all of which prefigured where we are now, which has been reaction and in some senses recursion into that. Anyway history before I was (not the only) PhD in the village (yes I found another one living not so far away today on the estates, and hey with an interest in “identity” but that is a diversion) The DWP had me down as a person with cognitive and learning difficulties. Well essentially all that means is that there were barriers to learning, and holes in what I am capable of knowing, though I think I would more readily describe them nowadays more in terms of a perceptual constellation where there is some mismatch with the ideal in Early 21st Century post enlightment, neo liberal society. Phew I think I am done, if not undone. Larry From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of m.hersh Sent: 01 May 2018 20:13 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: request Hi Thanks to everyone who comments on dis/ability, hegemony etc - useful comments and very interesting discussion. When work permits I will add a few more points. I have a further request, again in the context of the special section I am editing. What are your views on the terms learning disabilities, learning difficulties, cognitive impairments, intellectual disabilities and the associated identity first versions? Are there differences in the meaning? If not, which terms are the most empowering/least offensive? I generally use identity rather than person first, but sometimes use person first in the case of longer expressions which can be more difficult to say. What do you think about this in this case. And if person not identity first, then single or plural impairment/disability? I hope that all makes sense. I will also contact People First and see what they think. Regards Marion [Image removed by sender. University of Glasgow: The Times Scottish University of the Year 2018] ________________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<http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies>). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html> You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page. ________________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<http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies>). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html> You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page. ********************************************************************************** Is le haghaidh an duine nó an eintitis ar a bhfuil sí dírithe, agus le haghaidh an duine nó an eintitis sin amháin, a bheartaítear an fhaisnéis a tarchuireadh agus féadfaidh sé go bhfuil ábhar faoi rún agus/nó faoi phribhléid inti. Toirmisctear aon athbhreithniú, atarchur nó leathadh a dhéanamh ar an bhfaisnéis seo, aon úsáid eile a bhaint aisti nó aon ghníomh a dhéanamh ar a hiontaoibh, ag daoine nó ag eintitis seachas an faighteoir beartaithe. Má fuair tú é seo trí dhearmad, téigh i dteagmháil leis an seoltóir, le do thoil, agus scrios an t-ábhar as aon ríomhaire. Is é beartas na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais, na nOifígí agus na nGníomhaireachtaí a úsáideann seirbhísí TF na Roinne seoladh ábhair cholúil a dhícheadú. Más rud é go measann tú gur ábhar colúil atá san ábhar atá sa teachtaireacht seo is ceart duit dul i dteagmháil leis an seoltóir láithreach agus le mailminder[ag]justice.ie chomh maith. The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. It is the policy of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Agencies and Offices using its IT services to disallow the sending of offensive material. Should you consider that the material contained in this message is offensive you should contact the sender immediately and also mailminder[at]justice.ie. ********************************************************************************** ________________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.