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Locating deaf people, gesture and sign in African histories, 1450s-1950s
- Author:
- MILES M.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 19(5), August 2004, pp.531-545.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Construction of valued identities and evidence-based cultural histories is not easy for deaf or disabled people across Africa. This paper locates some deaf people, gesture and formal Sign Language in African histories, to illustrate possible sources and encourage local, national and pan-African compilation of materials. Documentary evidence of deaf individuals or groups is indicated from 25 nations, sourced in travellers' accounts, legal and genealogical records, government reports, institutional and missionary archives, linguistic studies, folklore, novels, religious narrative, mime and dance. Interpretations and uses of the materials remain for deaf people in Africa to decide according to their own various interests and objectives.
Segregated we stand?: the mutilated Greeks' debate at Persepolis, 330 BC
- Author:
- MILES M.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 18(7), December 2003, pp.865-879.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
As Alexander reached Persepolis in January 330 BC, he encountered a large group of newly released Greek captives who had been severely mutilated during Persian enslavement. Alexander agreed to aid their resettlement. The men debated whether to return to Greece with money in hand and disperse to their old families, who might be shocked by their appearance, or to stay as a mutually supportive group and receive benefits in Persia with their local partners. Detailed review is made of the historicity of this story recorded by Quintus Curtius, Diodorus Siculus and Justin. Evidence is presented of groupings of disabled people in Middle Eastern antiquity, the transmission of stories about Alexander, textual and linguistic analysis, social responses to severe disability, and truth or exaggeration of war atrocities or gross physical abuse from antiquity and modern times.
Studying responses to disability in South Asian histories: approaches personal, practical and pragmatical
- Author:
- MILES M.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 16(1), January 2001, pp.143-160.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Approaches and pitfalls are described in the field of Asian disability historiography, focusing on learning difficulties and visual impairments in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. More substantial evidence has surfaced for the study of responses to disability and disabled persons than for understanding historical concepts of disability. Critiques are considered of Orientalist information-gathering, of over-dependence on institutional sources, and of methodologies crossing disciplinary boundaries. With due attention to the range of hermeneutic variations, some recognition and understanding is possible of social and individual responses to disability and disabled people in South Asian history.
Disability in an eastern religious context: historical perspectives
- Author:
- MILES M.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 10(1), 1995, pp.49-69.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Disability in the past of eastern religions has attracted little formal or comparative scrutiny. A range is sketched here of historical data, viewpoints and attitudes on disability in Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, which continue to influence the thoughts of half the world's population. Approaches for more detailed studies are suggested, moving towards such global measures for understanding, remediating and accommodating disability as would be more appropriate and acceptable to the non-western majority. Popular notions associated with disabilities in these religions are discussed.