Representations of disability from the perspective of people with disabilities and their families: a critical discourse analysis of disability groups on Facebook

Abstract

Contrary to the growing body of research into views about and attitudes towards disability which has focused on the perspectives of non-disabled people, recent disability studies have been directed to the voices of people with disabilities and/or their families, by acknowledging an 'epistemic privilege' to them. In the present study, we use the posts of sensory and physical disability groups on Facebook as a lens to uncover the voices and experiences of people with disabilities and/or their families. The critical discourse analysis of the posts of disability groups on Facebook suggests that people with disabilities and/or their families do not constitute a homogeneous group of people being connected because of their common (bodily) condition. On the other hand, different representations of disability also suggest a different use of Facebook.

‘You are a parasite on the productive classes’: online disablist hate speech in austere times

“…According to , online communities are an important means of communication for disabled people due to its removal from the conventions and confinements of offline reality. As Huffaker, and Calvert (2005) suggest, the internet is a space whereby 'the power of the gaze becomes displaced by a textually oriented medium' (Bowker & Tuffin 2002, p.340), affording disabled people agency over important aspects of identity construction (Guo, Bricout, and Huang 2005;Stamou, Alevriadou, and Soufla 2016;Williamson et al 2001). Research by Kang, Brown, and Kiesler (2013) also presents anonymity as a tool for individuals to manage their online social relationships, particularly if they found this difficult offline, while for others, anonymity is sought to preserve their offline relationships by keeping their online persona separate from their constructed offline image (Bargh, McKenna, and Fitzsimons 2002).…”

Representing Inclusion of People With Disabilities: Analysing Discourses in a Mixed-Methods Study

“…Disability should not be considered as all-inclusive label (Stamou et al, 2016). Unfortunately, in Finland, even political decision makers and legislators have considered people with disabilities to be a homogenous population (Hästbac-ka and Konttinen, 2012).…”

An evaluation of social media images portrayal of disability discourse: #amputeefitness

“…From a medical model standpoint, the mind and body are considered separate entities where the body is approached as a collection of parts and subjective experiences are regarded as irrelevant (Turner, 2001). In line with the medical model, barriers are viewed as a personal misfortune, resulting from the individual's impairment (Brittain, 2004;Stamou, Alevriadou, & Soufla, 2016). Thus, emphasizing discrimination and rehabilitating individuals, if possible, back to 'normal' standards (Brittain, 2004;Stamou et al, 2016).…”

“…In line with the medical model, barriers are viewed as a personal misfortune, resulting from the individual's impairment (Brittain, 2004;Stamou, Alevriadou, & Soufla, 2016). Thus, emphasizing discrimination and rehabilitating individuals, if possible, back to 'normal' standards (Brittain, 2004;Stamou et al, 2016). From the perspective of the medical model, individuals with an amputation deviate from the 'normal' and 'ideal' body as they have a disfigurement that needs to be fixed or hidden.…”

“…From the perspective of the medical model, individuals with an amputation deviate from the 'normal' and 'ideal' body as they have a disfigurement that needs to be fixed or hidden. In contrast to having individuals of a perceived elite status (e.g., physician) defining disability, the social model of disability was conceptualized by individuals who have a disability (Lang, 2001) that consider the body to be socially produced (Turner, eujapa.upol.cz 2001) and view barriers as a social (including environment), political, and cultural construct (Stamou et al, 2016). In accordance with this latter model, the 'ideal' body is a barrier to positive body image constructed by society, and that individuals with an amputation could achieve the 'ideal' body.…”