Norman Kunc - The Right to be Disabled

Summary

This video script from the Dulwich Centre in Adelaide, Australia, features a conversation on critical disability theory and the social model of disability. The interviewee, born with cerebral palsy, recounts their journey from viewing disability as a personal battle to recognizing it as a social construct. The discussion highlights the shift from medicalizing disability to understanding it as a societal issue, emphasizing the need for architectural and social changes to accommodate diverse experiences.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The conversation was originally videotaped for the Dulwich Centre, a narrative therapy training institute in Adelaide, Australia.
• 📚 The purpose of the video was to introduce narrative practitioners to critical disability theory concepts.
• 🌐 It is included on the 'Conversations That Matter' site to provide an accessible explanation of the social model of disability.
• 🗣️ The speaker, Norman Kunc, shares his personal journey and pivotal moments that led him to view disability from a new perspective.
• 👶 Born with cerebral palsy, Norman's early life was marked by a focus on physical therapy and striving to be as non-disabled as possible.
• 🏫 Norman's experience in regular school was a continuation of his 'war' on disability, trying to fit in and be non-disabled.
• 🗣️ A pivotal moment occurred in university when a friend imitated his speech, leading Norman to question the social perception of disability.
• 🔄 Norman realized disability is not just a physical or mental condition but also a social construct that varies across cultures and time.
• 🌟 He emphasizes the importance of recognizing disability as a natural part of human diversity, not as a problem to be fixed.
• 🔄 The concept of 'relocating the problem of disability' from a medical issue to a social one is discussed, highlighting the need for societal change.
• 🏗️ The example of a ramp as an architectural correction rather than an accommodation for disabled individuals illustrates the shift in perspective.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the conversation in the transcript?

The main purpose of the conversation is to introduce narrative practitioners to concepts of critical disability theory and to provide an accessible explanation of the social model of disability.

What is the significance of the speaker's early experiences with physical therapy?

The speaker's early experiences with physical therapy were significant as they shaped his initial view of disability as an enemy to be conquered, setting the stage for his later realizations about the social aspects of disability.

How did the speaker's perspective on disability change during his time at university?

During university, the speaker's perspective shifted when a friend imitated his speech, leading him to question the social acceptance of disability and to realize that disability is not just a personal struggle but a social construct.

What is the 'right to be disabled' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'right to be disabled' refers to the speaker's realization that he has a right to exist as a disabled person without needing to conform to non-disabled norms, which was a pivotal moment in his understanding of disability.

Why is the speaker excited about the interconnections of different kinds of struggles?

The speaker is excited about the interconnections of different kinds of struggles because it allows for a broader understanding of disability as part of the human experience and creates more room for inclusivity and diversity.

Who is John McKnight and what is his relevance to the conversation?

John McKnight is a mentor mentioned in the conversation who provided insights on the civil rights movement, emphasizing the importance of redefining problems from a social perspective rather than an individual one.

What does the speaker mean by relocating the problem of disability from the medical realm into the social?

The speaker suggests that instead of viewing disability as a medical issue inherent to the individual, it should be seen as a social issue, where the problem lies in societal structures and attitudes that do not accommodate disabled individuals.

How does the concept of ramps illustrate the idea of relocating the problem of disability?

The concept of ramps is used as an example to show that the problem is not the individual's disability but the lack of accessibility in the built environment. A ramp is not just an accommodation but a correction of the building's design to be more inclusive.

What is the predominant narrative about disability that the speaker challenges?

The predominant narrative that the speaker challenges is the idea that people should not be disabled and that disability is something to be fixed or overcome, rather than an inherent part of human diversity.

How does the speaker's view on disability relate to the broader concept of diversity?

The speaker views disability as a natural part of human diversity, similar to other forms of diversity such as race or gender. This perspective challenges the notion that disability is an abnormality and promotes the acceptance of disability as a normal variation in human experience.

Outlines

00:00

📹 Introduction to Critical Disability Theory

The conversation was initially recorded for the Dulwich Centre's Narrative Therapy Training Institute in Adelaide, Australia, with the aim of introducing narrative practitioners to critical disability theory. The video is shared on the 'Conversations that Matter' site to provide an accessible explanation of the social model of disability. The interviewee, who has cerebral palsy, shares his journey from viewing disability as a personal battle to recognizing it as a social construct. He recounts his experiences with physical therapy and the regular school system, which led him to 'declare war' on his disability. However, a pivotal moment in a pub with friends, where one of them mimicked his speech, made him realize that the problem was not his disability but the social attitudes and environments that failed to accommodate it.

05:04

🌟 Redefining Disability from a Social Perspective

The speaker reflects on how his perception of disability changed from seeing it as a personal deficiency to understanding it as a social issue. He acknowledges the universal presence of disabled individuals across cultures and times, realizing he is part of a diverse group. The conversation touches on the idea of relocating the problem of disability from a medical to a social context, inspired by civil rights movements that redefined problems to challenge societal norms. The speaker uses the example of stairs and the need for ramps to illustrate how the problem should be seen as a failure of the environment to accommodate, rather than a personal limitation. This shift in perspective is crucial for understanding disability as an inherent part of human diversity, not as something that needs to be 'fixed' or overcome.

10:06

🏗️ The Social Model of Disability: Correcting Architectural Bias

In this paragraph, the concept of disability is further explored as an inherent part of the human experience. The speaker uses the metaphor of a building without ramps to illustrate how the environment can create barriers for disabled individuals. The presence of a ramp is not just an accommodation for a disabled person but a correction of the architectural oversight that excluded them. This perspective challenges the notion that disability is a problem that needs to be overcome, instead arguing that it is society's responsibility to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing disability as a natural part of human diversity and the need for societal structures to adapt to accommodate all individuals, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

Keywords

💡Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on how people construct their life stories and the impact of these narratives on their lives. In the video, it serves as the context for introducing critical disability theory, suggesting that understanding disability through personal narratives can offer new perspectives on identity and experience.

💡Critical Disability Theory

Critical Disability Theory examines the social, cultural, and political aspects of disability, challenging the traditional medical model that views disability as a personal tragedy or individual deficit. The video uses this theory to shift the focus from the individual to societal structures, advocating for a social model of disability.

💡Social Model of Disability

The social model of disability posits that disability is not an attribute of an individual but rather a result of the interaction between individuals with impairments and societal barriers. The video emphasizes this by discussing how the built environment and societal attitudes create disability, rather than the individual's physical or mental differences.

💡Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. In the script, the speaker's personal experience with cerebral palsy is used to illustrate the shift from viewing disability as a personal medical condition to understanding it as a social construct.

💡Physical Therapies

Physical therapies are treatments aimed at improving physical functions and mobility. The speaker recounts their experiences with physical therapy, highlighting the struggle to conform to non-disabled norms and the eventual realization that the problem lies not within them but in societal expectations and environments.

💡Inclusive Education

Inclusive education refers to the practice of designing and implementing educational systems that cater to the needs of all students, including those with disabilities. The video touches on the idea that while inclusive education is a step forward, it can still be rooted in the assumption that disability is a problem to be fixed, rather than a natural part of human diversity.

💡Relocating the Problem

Relocating the problem is a concept discussed in the video that involves shifting the perception of disability from being a personal issue to a societal one. It is exemplified by the speaker's realization that their struggle is not with their body but with the social structures that do not accommodate disability.

💡Human Diversity

Human diversity encompasses the variety of human characteristics, including physical, mental, and cultural differences. The video uses the concept of human diversity to argue that disability is a natural part of this spectrum, rather than an abnormality that needs to be corrected.

💡Mobility Impairment

Mobility impairment refers to a limitation in an individual's ability to move independently. The video uses the example of stairs and ramps to illustrate how the problem of mobility impairment is not the individual's limitation but the lack of accessible design in the built environment.

💡Architectural Correction

Architectural correction in the context of the video refers to the modification of the built environment to accommodate people with disabilities. It is contrasted with the idea of accommodation, suggesting that such modifications are not just for the benefit of individuals with disabilities but are necessary corrections to an environment that was built with the assumption of non-disability.

💡Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement is a historical reference used in the video to draw parallels between the struggle for racial equality and the struggle for disability rights. It highlights how redefining the problem from a personal issue to a societal one was crucial in advancing civil rights, which is analogous to the shift in perspective needed for disability rights.

Highlights

Introduction to critical disability theory and the social model of disability.

Personal narrative of living with cerebral palsy and the shift in perspective on disability.

The realization that disability is not just a physical limitation but also a social construct.

The importance of recognizing disability as a natural part of human diversity.

The concept of 'relocating the problem of disability' from a medical to a social issue.

The influence of the civil rights movement on the understanding of disability as a social issue.

The idea that disability is not an individual's problem but a societal one.

The narrative shift from disability as a personal tragedy to a societal failure.

The role of societal structures in creating barriers for people with disabilities.

The example of ramps as architectural corrections rather than accommodations.

The need for a paradigm shift in how we view and address disability.

The potential for interconnections between different kinds of struggles to create more inclusive societies.

The empowerment of individuals with disabilities to redefine societal problems.

The historical presence of people with disabilities in every culture and civilization.

The challenge to the notion that people should not be disabled and the acceptance of disability as part of the human experience.

The impact of societal attitudes and expectations on the lived experiences of people with disabilities.

The transformative power of reframing disability as a social issue rather than a personal deficit.

Transcripts

this conversation was originally

videotaped for the Dulwich center a

narrative therapy training institute in

adelaide australia its purpose was to

introduce narrative practitioners to

some of the concepts of critical

disability theory we are including this

video on the conversations that matter

site because we think it provides an

accessible explanation of the social

model of disability so we've been

invited to interview you for Friday at

Dulwich and wanted to talk to you a

little bit about critical disability and

how you got to some of these ideas all

right hey called disability series it's

very morphus lyric idea so I think the

easiest way to help people get into this

area is this story okay and I might

dialogue through the point of my life

where was a pivotal moment that led me

to see disability in a new way and so to

begin with um and obviously born with

cerebral palsy I when disengage go for

disabled kids internal and prominent

party that was physical therapies return

to it and I like to say I was the birth

I was a kid the physical therapist only

seen dreams right they want me the 10

repetitions of a certain exercise I did

20 they want me the only precarious

balance position for 30 seconds I held

it for a minute

cuz I would determine that I was going

to liver

a meaningful happy you know for world

life at that time eyes are the biggest

impediment to that was my disability so

it was as I I declared war on my

disability that with the enemy and

fourloves ears I really got focusing in

the regular school that wasn't winning

the war are you getting the regular

school eventually I prefer it graded I

argued myself in the regular school but

what surprised me with the war didn't

end I just changed battlefields cuz now

rather than me kill me as non-disabled

as I could in therapy room I do become

as non-disabled as I could be in the

lunchroom in the hallways so third

University I'm in pub with a bunch of

friends and one of my friends tells the

story which involves me and we get to my

part of the story he imitates the wave

talk is this and then Norman walks up

and says oh hold your voice Oh Fred

tough to tell Fred why new imitate my

voice and cuz it's hard like that you

have River look like I'm picking up a

Gaza one and ever take away my words

clearly I've gotten in can we

performance here you imitate my voice my

whole show goes out the window and Fred

let that meetin knowing why are you

trying to be hit none

in kneecapped and in stringent sounds

that was the first time that question

they referred to me

we drank a wild river at night and wrong

son and the second jagged draft

I remember saying the phrase the right

to be disabled either step back and

listen to my home oh um on words and

when whoa I think at that moment I could

see my life changed because prior to

that night as in disability solely as

something within my body with an

abnormal and relevé deficiency but that

night I suddenly realizes I had a people

they said disability rather than

physiology called conduct in social

conducts and in couple ways first of all

they recognized that in every culture

and the world there people were physical

and/or mental disability so you know I

was part of that group evil by even

struggling versus real time you know I

in every civilization in every age there

when disabled people the vibe of the

Romans the mingoes think the Mayan

culture there have always been this a

what we all know were usually I kill

yeah but I think I realized that that

moment for that I was part of the no

diversity every

movie so you know what I'm excited about

the like what I'm seeing is the

interconnections of these different

kinds of struggles and making more room

for others and one thing you were kind

of giving me a heads up about was this

idea about relocating the problem of

disability you know from the medical

realm into the social who say something

about that

well our mentors the guy called John

McKnight who tell on the civil rights

movement and fifties and sixties trying

to get the auto industry integrated he's

a great quote he says revolutions begin

when people who are defined them as

problem achieve the power to redefine

the problem and the example he uses

civil rights movement really began they

kept momentum when they were able to

redefine the problem from a fight

problem to a white problem right now

rather like skin is a problem of what

prejudice were privileged yeah so the so

those really Kevon Frenzel if you think

of the predominant narrative in our

society and they resonate aversive story

which we all get Merstham this idea that

people shouldn't be disabled now for

example me you knowing you may be fully

committed inclusive education disability

sadder right but on another level and

available you may

from the presumption that norm is not

the way he should have been norman

even born non-disabled something you

have a net worth so now Norman is not

the way he should have it every work

never resumption your locating the

problem in me yeah alright so for

example the way this is explained if I

come up this is stairs and there's them

and you see that says stairs of my

inability because of the Bursar's as a

mobility impairment now you can be you

know fallen favorite ramps cetera but

the belief is installing a ramp is the

comedy the problem with me exactly to

relocate the problem we means we go from

the presumption that people should not

be disabled in the idea that disability

is an inherent part of the human

strength by these breakdown accidents

happen this idea that we should be

non-disabled through a large delusional

what we see disability as an inherent

part of the human experience then when

you see me willing up these stairs my

inability to get up losers is a result

of the mobility impairment

me it's that this building was built on

the premise that no one should be

disabled so their ramp rather than being

an accommodation for me is actually

correction of an architect whatever so

when we see for example a simple example

as a ramp being an architectural

correction rather than an accommodation

for me that's a very specific example

relocating the problem yeah