Winks, blinks, squints and twitches: Looking for disability, culture and self‐determination through our son’s left eye

Philip M. Ferguson; Dianne L. Ferguson

doi:10.1080/15017410109510777

Research

Winks, blinks, squints and twitches: Looking for disability, culture and self‐determination through our son’s left eye

Authors:

Philip M. Ferguson ,

Education of Children with Disabilities, University of Missouri St. Louis, 301 Marillac Hall, 8001 Natural Brigde Road, St.Louis, MO 63121-4499, USA, US

About Philip M.

Philip M. Ferguson, Ph.D. does research in disability history, family support policy, and building inclusive communities.

Dianne L. Ferguson

Professor of Education, Educational and Community Supports, 1215 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97405-1215, USA, US

About Dianne L.

Ph.D., primarily focuses on issues of education reform and professional development with an emphasis on inclusive approaches to urban schooling.

Abstract

In this article, we argue that while an appreciation of disability’s cultural context is fundamental, we should be careful not to replace one essentialist version of disability with a new one. We look at the relational patterns that emerge from the specific circumstances of significant intellectual disability. This article follows Clifford Geertz’ well‐known account of the multiple layers of cultural context and interpretive richness raised by even a seemingly simple act such as winking. By exploring the meaning of son’s ability to wink, we argue that intellectual disability may be interpreted as the absence of culture. The article goes on to explore the fragility of this relationship through the example of the cultural status of adulthood. Two recent reform initiatives ‐ independent living and community inclusion ‐ are discussed in light of this interpretation of intellectual disability. Implications for further research are briefly mentioned.

How to Cite: Ferguson, P.M. and Ferguson, D.L., 2001. Winks, blinks, squints and twitches: Looking for disability, culture and self‐determination through our son’s left eye. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 3(2), pp.71–90. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410109510777

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Published on 02 Jul 2001

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

References

DeJong , G. (1984). . “Independent living: From social movement to analytic paradigm. ”. In The psychological and social impact of physical disability . , (2nd Ed.) , Edited by: Marinelli , R. P. and Orto , A. E. Dell . : 39.–. [city: New York]: : Springer. .
Ferguson , D. L. and Ferguson , P. M. (1986). . The new Victors: A progressive policy analysis of work reform for people with very severe handicaps. . Mental Retardation , 24: : 331.–.
Ferguson , P. M. (1994). . Abandoned to their fate: Social policy and practice toward severely retarded people in America, 1820–1920. , [city: Philadelphia]: : Temple University Press. .
Ferguson , P. M. , Hibbard , M. , Leinen , J. and Schaff , S. (1990). . Supported community life: Disability policy and renewal of mediating structures. . Journal of Disability Policy Studies , I: : 9.–.
Geertz , C. (1973a). . Deep play: Notes on Balinese cockfight. The interpretation of culture. , [city: New York]: : Basic Books. .
Geertz , C. (1973b). . “Thick description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture. ”. In The interpretation of culture. , [city: New York]: : Basic Books. .
Goode , D. (1980). . “Behavioral sculpting. ”. In Phenomenological approaches to mental retardation. , Edited by: Jacobs , J. [city: Springfield], [state: IL]: : C. C. Thomas. .
Goode , D. (1995). . A world without words: The social construction of children born deaf and blind. , [city: Philadelphia]: : Temple University Press. .
Minow , M. (1990). . Making all the difference‐Inclusion, exclusion, and American law. , [city: Ithaca], [state: NY]: : Cornell University Press. .
Rusch , F. R. , Destefano , L. , Chadsey‐Rusch , J. , Phelps , L. A. and Szymanski , E. (1992). , eds. . Transition from school to adult life: Models, linkages, and policy. , [city: Sycamore], [state: IL]: : Sycamore Publishing Co.. .
Rusch , F. R. , Szymanski , E. M. and Chadsey‐Rusch , J (1992). . . “The emerging field of transition services. ”. In Transition from school to adult life: Models, lindages, and policy. , Edited by: Rusch , F. R. , Destefano , L. , Chadsey‐Rusch , J. , Phelps , L. A. and Szymanski , E. : 5.–. [city: Sycamore], [state: IL]: : Sycamore Publishing Co.. .
Silvers , A. (1995). . Reconciling equality to difference: Caring (F)or justice for peole with disabilities. . Hypatia , 10((1)): : 30.–.
Taylor , S. J. (1988). . Caught in the continuum: A critical analysis of the principle of the least restrictive environment. . Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps , 13: : 41.–.
Watson‐Gegeo , K. A. (). Toward thick explanation in ethnographic research. . Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association. . [city: Chicago], [state: IL]. April.
Williams , G. H. (1983). . The movement for independent living: An evaluation and critique. . Social Science and Medicine , 17: : 1003.–.
Woodill , G. (1994). . “The .social semiotics of disability. ”. In Disability is not measles: New research paradigms in disability. , Edited by: Rioux , M. H. and Bach , M. : 201.–. [city: North York], [state: Ontario]: : L'Institut Roeher Institute. .
Zola , I. K. (1994). . “Towards inclusion: The role of people with disabilities in policy and research issues in the United States ‐ A historical and political analysis. ”. In Disability is not measles: New research paradigms in disability. , Edited by: Rioux , M. H. and Bach , M. : 49.–. [city: North York], [state: Ontario]: : L'Institut Roeher Institute. .

[CIT0001] DeJong , G. (1984). . “Independent living: From social movement to analytic paradigm. ”. In The psychological and social impact of physical disability . , (2nd Ed.) , Edited by: Marinelli , R. P. and Orto , A. E. Dell . : 39.–. [city: New York]: : Springer. .

[CIT0002] Ferguson , D. L. and Ferguson , P. M. (1986). . The new Victors: A progressive policy analysis of work reform for people with very severe handicaps. . Mental Retardation , 24: : 331.–.

[CIT0003] Ferguson , P. M. (1994). . Abandoned to their fate: Social policy and practice toward severely retarded people in America, 1820–1920. , [city: Philadelphia]: : Temple University Press. .

[CIT0004] Ferguson , P. M. , Hibbard , M. , Leinen , J. and Schaff , S. (1990). . Supported community life: Disability policy and renewal of mediating structures. . Journal of Disability Policy Studies , I: : 9.–.

[CIT0005] Geertz , C. (1973a). . Deep play: Notes on Balinese cockfight. The interpretation of culture. , [city: New York]: : Basic Books. .

[CIT0006] Geertz , C. (1973b). . “Thick description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture. ”. In The interpretation of culture. , [city: New York]: : Basic Books. .

[CIT0007] Goode , D. (1980). . “Behavioral sculpting. ”. In Phenomenological approaches to mental retardation. , Edited by: Jacobs , J. [city: Springfield], [state: IL]: : C. C. Thomas. .

[CIT0008] Goode , D. (1995). . A world without words: The social construction of children born deaf and blind. , [city: Philadelphia]: : Temple University Press. .

[CIT0009] Minow , M. (1990). . Making all the difference‐Inclusion, exclusion, and American law. , [city: Ithaca], [state: NY]: : Cornell University Press. .

[CIT0010] Rusch , F. R. , Destefano , L. , Chadsey‐Rusch , J. , Phelps , L. A. and Szymanski , E. (1992). , eds. . Transition from school to adult life: Models, linkages, and policy. , [city: Sycamore], [state: IL]: : Sycamore Publishing Co.. .

[CIT0011] Rusch , F. R. , Szymanski , E. M. and Chadsey‐Rusch , J (1992). . . “The emerging field of transition services. ”. In Transition from school to adult life: Models, lindages, and policy. , Edited by: Rusch , F. R. , Destefano , L. , Chadsey‐Rusch , J. , Phelps , L. A. and Szymanski , E. : 5.–. [city: Sycamore], [state: IL]: : Sycamore Publishing Co.. .

[CIT0012] Silvers , A. (1995). . Reconciling equality to difference: Caring (F)or justice for peole with disabilities. . Hypatia , 10((1)): : 30.–.

[CIT0013] Taylor , S. J. (1988). . Caught in the continuum: A critical analysis of the principle of the least restrictive environment. . Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps , 13: : 41.–.

[CIT0014] Watson‐Gegeo , K. A. (). Toward thick explanation in ethnographic research. . Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association. . [city: Chicago], [state: IL]. April.

[CIT0015] Williams , G. H. (1983). . The movement for independent living: An evaluation and critique. . Social Science and Medicine , 17: : 1003.–.

[CIT0016] Woodill , G. (1994). . “The .social semiotics of disability. ”. In Disability is not measles: New research paradigms in disability. , Edited by: Rioux , M. H. and Bach , M. : 201.–. [city: North York], [state: Ontario]: : L'Institut Roeher Institute. .

[CIT0017] Zola , I. K. (1994). . “Towards inclusion: The role of people with disabilities in policy and research issues in the United States ‐ A historical and political analysis. ”. In Disability is not measles: New research paradigms in disability. , Edited by: Rioux , M. H. and Bach , M. : 49.–. [city: North York], [state: Ontario]: : L'Institut Roeher Institute. .

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Research

Winks, blinks, squints and twitches: Looking for disability, culture and self‐determination through our son’s left eye

Authors:

Philip M. Ferguson ,

Education of Children with Disabilities, University of Missouri St. Louis, 301 Marillac Hall, 8001 Natural Brigde Road, St.Louis, MO 63121-4499, USA, US

About Philip M.

X close

Dianne L. Ferguson

Professor of Education, Educational and Community Supports, 1215 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97405-1215, USA, US

About Dianne L.

X close

Abstract

References