Critical Disability Studies Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Lecturer: Dr. Winter
• Session Focus: Critical Disability Studies
• Key Apologies:
  • No Q&A session due to the need for detailed responses.
  • Lecturer experienced a severe brain injury affecting stamina and speech.
• Reading Materials:
  • Books and articles introduced as foundational to Critical Disability Studies.
  • Availability: Limited access at Christchurch in Canterbury.

Lecture Structure

1. Definitions and Terminology
2. Spiritual and Moral Perspectives of Disability
3. Individual and Medical Perspectives
4. Social Model of Disability
5. Other Key Models and Perspectives
6. Critical Disability Studies
   • Beginnings
   • Key Directions

Definitions and Terminology

Legal Definition

• Originates from the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.
• Two main terms:
  • Disabled Person: Uses a social model, impairment with societal causes.
  • Person with Disabilities: Person-first language.

Spiritual/Moral Perspective

• Disability seen as a defect from moral lapse, survival, or faith test.
• Myths and religious nuances influence perceptions.
• Impact:
  • Shame and moral implications for family.
  • Intervention goals: Spiritual acceptance, increased faith.
• Benefits: Acceptance of a divine purpose.
• Negative Effects: Ostracism and shame.

Medical/Individual Perspective

• Disability as a medical issue within the individual.
• Implications:
  • Viewed as personal tragedy.
  • Family blamed for health habits.
• Impact on Treatment:
  • Medical intervention emphasized.
  • Services aim to adjust individuals, not society.
• Critiques: Seen as reductionist and paternalistic.

Social Model of Disability

• Focus: Societal barriers, not individual impairments.
• Origins:
  • Pre-industrial care vs. post-industrial removal from society.
  • Influenced by economic changes and wars.
• Key Figures: Mike Oliver, Colin Barnes, Vic Finkelstein.
• Impact:
  • Legislation like the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.
  • Framework changes in public spaces and policies.

Critical Disability Studies (CDS)

• Not Homogeneous: Includes multiple viewpoints intersecting with other theories.
• Origins: Early 2000s, runs parallel to traditional disability studies.
• Focus: Analyzes broader humanity through disability lens.
• Key Directions:
  • Bodies and Impairment: Acknowledges direct effects of impairment.
  • Philosophical Perspectives: Examines societal interactions with disability.
• Global South Disability Studies:
  • Critiques Western-centric models.
  • Focuses on local-global dynamics.

Models and Theories

Minority Model

• Origin: North America, inspired by civil rights movements.
• Focus: Combines social critiques with race and radicalization theories.

Other Models

• Cultural, Human Rights, and Nordic Relational Models.
• Critical Studies of Ableism:
  • Challenges societal standards of idealized normativity.
  • Explores historical and cultural biases in ableism.

Conclusion

• Impact of CDS:
  • Promotes varied voices in disability discourse.
  • Engages with diverse social, cultural, and political contexts.
• Goals: Broaden understanding and inclusion of disability perspectives.

End of lecture notes.