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Corporeality and critical disability studies: toward an informed epistemology of embodiment
- Author:
- FLYNN Susan
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 36(4), 2021, pp.636-655.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper forms an intervention into debates about the corporeality of impairment and ‘bodies that matter’ in critical disability studies. Toward informing the epistemology of embodiment present in critical disability studies, it proposes new directions for progression within four set parameters. Firstly, insights from disability might be better re-purposed toward understanding the nature of all human embodiment. Secondly, one must sufficiently address, but not necessarily polarise, materiality and abstraction. Thirdly, within its parent academy, the epistemological approach might adhere to critical disability studies’ conventions, whilst still avoiding present perils and impasses. Fourthly, it is important not to be so exhaustive and conclusive as to eliminate innovation and creative new trajectories. Overall, the sustaining proposition is, that the productive capacity of disability is immense, toward disrupting and re-configuring ableist understandings of the body in the material world. (Edited publisher abstract)
Defining disability: effects of disability concepts on research outcomes
- Author:
- GRONVIK Lars
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 12(1), February 2009, pp.1-18.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article presents analyses of how different definitions of disability affect the outcomes of studies of disabled people's living conditions. Three different definitions of disability are compared using six rather common variables: gender, age, living arrangements, education, labour market participation and income. Selected definitions of disability are administrative definitions, a subjective definition and a functional definition. Analyses were conducted using compilations of several databases in Sweden. Recurrent differences between administrative definitions, on the one hand, and functional and subjective definitions, on the other, are found in relation to educational and labour force variables. People defined by an administrative definition are more likely to be younger and single than the people defined by the other two definitions. More research on the impact of disability definitions is needed. However, a first step in resolving this question would be to improve the methodological awareness of disability researchers.
Adapting the adaptations process: tackling the barriers within policy and practice
- Author:
- MCCALL Vikki
- Publisher:
- UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
This report gives insight to the fragmented policy landscape in Scotland around adaptations, with further experiences gathered from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are many good practice examples throughout Scotland, and key stakeholders emphasise the important role for adaptations in the impact they make in people’s lives. However, the current systems that supports home adaptations in Scotland are fragmented, overly complex, and bureaucratic. These challenges undermine the preventive potential that adaptations can offer to service users. The report presents the perspectives of key stakeholders on how we can tackle the barriers within policy and practice within the adaptations process. Adaptations involve health and wellbeing-related home and environmental modifications for social, private renters and home-owners. In Scotland and throughout the UK, there are various adaptations processes that support the access, assessment and delivery of adaptations for service users. The report offers a new process for understanding the adaptations process, presenting barriers attached to governance, need awareness, information and advice, assessment, funding, design, delivery, evaluation & performance monitoring. Adaptations to homes and wider environments are essential for supporting health, social care and wellbeing needs, preventing health crises and future proofing homes for a diverse and ageing population. The processes that support adaptations, however, are fragmented, difficult to understand, and involve clear divergence between both local authority area and tenure. The evidence offered in this report leads to a clear need for finding a common approach across Scotland for supporting adaptations. (Edited publisher abstract)
Do the right thing: supporting disabled people through the cost of living crisis
- Author:
- SCOPE
- Publisher:
- SCOPE
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 40
This report examines the impact of the cost of living crisis on disabled people. It is based on evidence we have collected from our energy and benefit support services, focus groups with disabled people and families, polling, and analysis of government datasets. It paints a devastating picture of how disabled people and families are facing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Even before this current crisis, disabled people already faced extra costs of £583 per month on average. For almost a quarter (24%) of families with disabled children, extra costs amount to over £1,000 a month. High energy bills are making the situation far worse - even with government schemes in place. Over a third of disabled adults feel that their impairment or condition has an impact on how much energy they use and 9 in 10 (91%) are worried about energy bills this winter. There are also many disabled people who are not in work and welfare payments are their only income. Benefit rates have seen a significant real-terms cut due to not keeping pace with rising costs - up to £678 in real terms for someone receiving income-based Employment and Support Allowance as of October 2022. Prior to the cost of living crisis, more than 4 in 10 families who rely on disability benefits were living in poverty. Change requires government, regulators and businesses to work together to tackle this crisis, and collectively do the right thing. (Edited publisher abstract)
Disabled and confined: using art therapy as a coping strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Authors:
- HOUARI Amel Said, HADJOUI Ghouti
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 37(1), 2022, pp.22-37.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The contemporary universal challenge of COVID-19 pandemic put more restrictions to disabled people's social interaction. This paper reports qualitative findings from a short-term art therapy intervention for a person with West Syndrome to examine how art therapy can be used as a coping strategy with the psychological impact of confinement. The data were analysed using Cathy Malchiodi's theory of 'art in therapy' and Edith Kramer's theory of 'art as therapy'. Findings from this study show that the use of art therapy as a coping strategy during the confinement period has clear benefits as it promotes emotional well-being and helps to reduce the mobility limitations caused by disability. The article concludes that art therapy can be used as an alternative way to cope with disability. It aims to positively impact parents and caregivers through highlighting new spots of action. (Edited publisher abstract)
Housing associations and home adaptations: finding ways to say yes
- Authors:
- MACKINTOSH Sheila, FRONDIGOUN Rachel
- Publisher:
- Foundations
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 152
- Place of publication:
- Glossop
This study looks in depth at how adaptations are funded and delivered – including minor adaptations and use of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG); examines how funding arrangements might be improved and the delivery process made quicker and more effective; explores how the moving process might be improved, when adaptations are not the right solution, to see; and aims to encourage a longer term and more strategic view of home adaptations. The report identifies good practice, particularly in LSVTs that control their own adaptations budgets, those fully engaged with their disabled and older tenants, or where there are effective partnership arrangements. However, there are also issues in funding and delivery including splits in legal responsibility, a confusing pattern of funding, a post code lottery in the type of services provided, complex customer journeys and frustration for staff in local authorities and associations. Rather than saying ‘yes’ to adaptations, barriers are often placed in the way and adaptations may be refused, especially in general needs properties. Furthermore, moving home is not easy if a home is unsuitable or not possible to adapt, including because not enough accessible homes are being built and adapted homes are not recycled effectively. Most associations see adapting homes as a minor operational issue and there is a lack of disabled people working in the sector. The report provides recommendations for associations, local authorities, central government, and the Housing Regulator and provides practical solutions to put disabled and older tenants at the heart of decision-making, an inclusive approach to services, and for home adaptations to be part of the new customer-focused inspection regime. (Edited publisher abstract)
The helpful brain? Translations of neuroscience into social work
- Author:
- GIBSON Margaret F.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 51(7), 2021, pp.2665-2679.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
What do the many translations of ‘the brain’ from the domain of neuroscience offer to social work researchers? Drawing upon disability studies and critical social work, this article examines trends and tensions across ‘neuro’ writing in social work journals and summarises some commonly recommended practices. Neuroscientific discourse has undeniable cultural influence and offers distinctive forms of evidence to social workers. Social work scholars have strategically translated neuroscience findings to access greater disciplinary status, to counter neo-liberal onslaughts on public services, to communicate on inter-disciplinary teams and to address calls for ‘new’ scholarship. At the same time, many writers readily acknowledge that they use neuroscience to justify or even revive well-established social work practices and theories. A unidirectional strategy of translation across disciplines comes with inherent risks of reinforcing hierarchy, ignoring social difference and undermining the value of social work research and practice. Neurodiversity discourse offers one example of ‘neuro’ argumentation where social justice and neuroscience have intertwined and may present an opportunity for a different type of social work translation. Social workers should be prepared to engage with neuroscience but must do so in ways that consistently reinforce social justice commitments and include a wide array of perspectives. (Edited publisher abstract)
“Good morning, Twitter! What are you doing today to support the voice of people with #disability?”: disability and digital organizing
- Authors:
- SARKAR Tanushree, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Community Practice, 29(3), 2021, pp.299-318.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philapelphia, USA
Understanding Twitter by individuals and organizations to raise awareness and give voice to the disability community provides important insight into digital discourse around disability. This study examines #disability tweets shared during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October 2018. Sourced and cleaned, English language tweets (n = 12,963) were analyzed through a mixed-methods approach. As the title of this paper, a tweet from our dataset, suggests, Twitter discourse reflects disability activism and culture as it exists globally. This work highlights important methodological considerations for differentiating the ways individuals and organizations utilize Twitter and highlights the importance of qualitative analysis in this regard. (Original abstract)
A contribution towards a possible re-invigoration of our understanding of the social model of disability’s potential
- Author:
- IACOVOU Maria
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 36(7), 2021, pp.1169-1185.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There has been published work in Disability & Society showing that the social model of disability may be re-invigorated if its emphasis reflects current social conditions and their specific context and if relevant questions are applied to specific impairment labels by each country. In this paper, I further address the issue of terminologies, concerning the notions of impairment, disability, the social model, as well as some terms with negative connotations surrounding these notions. I argue that, in attempting to detangle part of language’s complexity, it may be important to re-focus on the dynamic nature of relevant chameleon-like terminologies and their impact on attitudes towards disability, which seem to be prolonged. This scope, when coupled to a clearer focus on a materialist approach to disability, may act as a catalyst towards a re-invigoration of our understanding of the social model’s potential. (Edited publisher abstract)
Dental disadvantage for people with disability: a potential solution for a problematic area of care
- Authors:
- MANLEY Maxwell Christopher Graham, LANE H. L, DOSHI M.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 36(7), 2021, pp.1197-1202.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper considers the oral health of people with disability and the disadvantage they experience compared to those who do not have a disability. There are many influencing factors for this including service provision and appropriate training for staff. A potential solution is proposed demonstrating that even advanced dental care is possible for people with complex disability. This meets the principal of equitable care for people with disability. The example concerns the provision of a lower anterior bridge for a gentleman with mid to end stage Huntington’s disease and significant uncontrolled choreic movements. Intravenous conscious sedation is used to facilitate complex treatment and to demonstrate a clinical skill which can open doors for the treatment of adults with disability (Edited publisher abstract)