Critical points in the lives of people with disabilities
Charles Gardou
This paper underlines the importance of giving the floor to those who are experiencing the disability first-hand; the researcher must use participant observation and the collection of testimonies. Disability is a situation of deprivation of liberty and the person runs the risk of non-recognition and lack of reciprocity in relations with others with consequent social marginalisation. Disability clashes with the idea of normal set by society and with images of femininity and masculinity of our culture. The significant amount of conditioning caused by economic inequalities and lack of accessibility is also underlined. Freedom is synonymous with dignity and a human community is «worthy» when it accepts the concept of universal vulnerability.
Keywords
Giving the floor, observation and testimony, disability and freedom, economy and accessibility, dignity, universal
vulnerability
