Self-definition and Disability

Like the other liberation strands, self-definition is a complex phrase here. Do I consider myself disabled? I don’t know. Not in the sense of “being disabled is a part of my identity”, in the way that the fact that I’m a guy, or the fact that I’m bisexual is, certainly. However, in the sense of “I logically know I am disabled” then yes, I do. How, therefore, do we define who “is” a disabled student – if we say “those who self-define as disabled” we run the risk of excluding people who are disabled but wouldn’t consider themselves that way, like, to some extent I don’t. If we use a legal definition of “disabled” we run the risk of excluding the same people that the law excludes, and also the risk of people not seeing themselves as “disabled enough” to be a part of it.

What I’ve seen the University of York Disabled Students Network doing, and what I think is great, is using the following definition “those who self-define as disabled, who meet the legal definition of having a disability, or have reason to access or consider accessing disability support services during their degree”. I’d say that’s a good way of looking at it, and includes as many people as possible within the label, so that’s the one I’m going to use in terms of advertising the Disabled Students Network (when I set it up), and in terms of focussing my work.

However, it’s still more complex than that. When people think “disability” they tend to think “wheelchair” (which my presence probably doesn’t help with), but actually conditions that are disabling can be far more varied than that. Learning impairments, difficulties and differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autistic spectrum conditions, ADHD, and related, mental health conditions such as depression, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and more, sensory impairments such as visual or auditory impairment, physical impairments or those that affect energy levels such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, diabetes, epilepsy, neurological conditions in general, autoimmune conditions in general, such as lupus or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, the list could go on for hours and I still wouldn’t mention everything. It’s a vast group of people with very different needs, but it’s also a group of people that is consistently underrepresented, and that faces under-access to university, higher financial costs for being at university, and a rising rate of discrimination in society.

As a result, if you feel like you fit the definition I gave above (which includes self-defining), feel free to contact me, or come along to events once the new term starts and they get organised. If you’re not sure if you fit or not, feel free to email me (I’ll put my address up once I have it) or comment here, and we’ll talk about it. If you want to get on board and help, definitely contact me!

Matt