Disability, Culture, and Society

(Example: I would firmly locate my personal and professional sense of disability in the Social Model. That is, while I appreciate the value of a medical understanding of impairment, I see the presence of this meaning in everyday life and culture as a real deterrent to the empowerment and success of disabled people. More than this, I feel disability as a source of pride, community, and connection.)

You'll notice that the opening chapters of Clare's book broadly introduce his concerns about cure. When we advocate 'curing' impairments it is worth asking what sorts of bodies, minds, and lives are we necessarily excluding? Further, he raises the question of what exactly "cure" entails, connecting to environmental and architectural restoration and renovation. What do you think of this metaphor? Also, given that Clare's work is entirely located within DS scholarship and a disability cultural perspective, how have you said this book differs from Mackelprang & Salsgiver, and what you expected. In other words, put these two texts in dialogue, what would the authors or the analyses have to say to each other?

Reading:

1. Clare, Eli. (2018). Brilliant Imperfections. Chapter(s) from Mackelbrang & Salsgiver.

2. Read an article Stella wrote on inspiration porn at