Disability

Disability and Accessibility

• Tiny House Movement: Explore the intersection of disability and the growing trend for tiny houses providing more accessible living options.

Discourses of the Paralympian

• Definition: The discussions and narratives surrounding athletes with disabilities, shaped by societal perceptions and media portrayal.
• Michel Foucault: Understand discourse as a collection of statements that govern how a topic is discussed, establishing norms while excluding others.

Overview of the Paralympic Movement

• History:

  • Dr. Ludwig Guttmann: Pioneer of the Paralympic Movement, who initiated rehabilitation programs for war veterans at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
  • Stoke Mandeville Games (1948): The precursor to the Paralympics; focused on participation and included only wheelchair athletes.

• Timeline:

  • 1888: Sport for the Deaf existed in Berlin, leading to the establishment of the Deaflympics.
  • 1960: First official Paralympic Games held in Rome, with 400 athletes from 23 countries.

• Classification:

  • Different classifications exist for athletes based on their disabilities including spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, amputations, and visual impairments.
  • Growth of participation: By 2008, 3,951 athletes from 146 countries participated in the Beijing Paralympics.

Importance of the Social Model of Disability

• Distinction:

  • Impairment: Refers to the physical limitations of an individual.
  • Disability: Relates to social exclusion and the disadvantages imposed by society.

• Benefits:

  • Politically, instrumentally, and psychologically empowering for those with disabilities.

• Critiques:

  • Some argue it overlooks specific impairments and assumes all disabled individuals are oppressed.

Critical Themes and Representations in Rio 2016

• Journalistic Influence:

  • Media shapes public perception of disability, often focusing on narratives of triumph over adversity.
  • Examples include “Supercrip” imagery and framing that can lead to misconceptions.

• Themes:

  • Defending One's Country: Represents disability in a militaristic context (e.g., "serve", "defend").
  • Cyborgification: Highlights the technology used in sport (e.g., prosthetics) while often dehumanizing athletes.
  • Gendered Spectacle: Presents men as symbols of strength while women are portrayed focusing on elegance, potentially limiting broader empowerment.

• Media Resistance:

  • The media often neglects issues surrounding accessibility for disabled individuals beyond the Paralympic context and reinforces a narrow view of acceptable disability (only celebrating Paralympians).

Issues in Representation

• Murderball Film Discussion:
  • Analyze how the documentary challenges or reinforces stereotypes surrounding disability and intersects with other identity categories, raising questions about societal perceptions and portrayal of disabled individuals.