Protests in the Deaf and Disability Communities : Past Research and Future Directions Dr. Sharon Barnartt Department of Sociology

Some material taken from Disability Protests: Contentious Politics (Gallaudet Univ Press, 2001) But new analyses are also presented

Methodology content analysis OR event history analysis

The Data Were located using both hand searching and computerized data bases [mostly Lexis Nexus] Were collected from newspaper & other media reports, organization web sites, and personal accounts Only included protests that had already happened N = 880 protests in the US and 326 outside the US –Non-newspaper data were verified from other sources

Operational Definitions This was the hard part They were based upon previous sociological research in collective behavior when possible--but it was not always possible

“Protest ” Conducted by 2 or more people Demands social, not individual, change Is not related to self-help or money- raising Uses non-normative tactics –acceptable (~ = protest) lobbying petitioning –unacceptable ( = protest) strike blocking buses

“One Protest” Same core group Same issue Can have sequential tactics Cannot have simultaneous protests at two locations [or that becomes two protests]

“Protests Related to Deafness or Disability” Protest issues are relevant to PWD’s and/or deaf people OR Protests are carried out by PWD’S and/or deaf people Protests related to AIDS, breast cancer, obesity or other medical problems were included if related to disability [For ex: were protesting SS benefit criteria]

Results: Part 1 Patterns of US Protests

Impairment-related Demands (N = 934)

Protest Demands (N = 1206 )

Categories of Protest Demands

Protest targets

Results: Part 2 Deafness-related Protests in the US

Protests by Year (N = 95)

Protest Demands

ProtestTargets

Results: Part 3 Comparing US to non US Protests

~US Protests by Year (N = 326)

Non US Protest Locations

Demand Type by Location

Demand Categories by Location Differences are statistically significant

Targets by US or Not Differences are statistically significant

Governmental Targets by US or Not Differences are statistically significant

Demand Type by Development Level

For example: Protests in India & Pakistan

Targets by Development Level Differences are statistically significant

Demand Categories by Development Level Differences are statistically significant

Part 4 The Diffusion of DPN How did it affect protests inside or outside of the US?

US Protests by Time Period Differences are statistically significant

US Deafness Protests by Time Period and Location

~US, Post DPN Deafness Protest Locations –Only 5 occurred before DPN

Conclusions: US Protests were most likely to be cross-disability or to focus on issues related to mobility impairments were most likely to demand changes in services -- it is not correct to call it a Disability Rights movement –There are lots of other juicy facts in the book

Conclusions: Deafness- related Protests in the US Protests did not begin with DPN Most likely to target either state governments or educational institutions More likely to occur after DPN than were non-deafness related protests

Conclusions: US vs ~US Protests US protests more likely to –have demands related to mobility impairments –have demands related to rights –to target state or local gov’ts ~US protests more likely to –relate to blindness or deafness –target the federal or national gov’t –have demands related to services

Conclusions: Developed vs Developing Country Protests Protests in developed countries more likely to –relate to mobility impairments –have demands related to rights –target local or ‘state’ gov’ts Protests in developing countries more likely to –relate to blindness or be cross-disability –have demands which do not fit into the rights or services categories –target the national government –use unusual tactics [data not shown]

Conclusions:The Effects of DPN To mobilize the US deaf community to a protest level somewhat higher than that of the larger disability community To mobilize deaf communities outside of the US--although larger proportions of protests unrelated to deafness occurred after DPN in other countries than in the US

Possible Directions for Future Research ? Overlaps with protests from other social movements, such as the “Right to Life,” breast cancer, and AIDS movements Intensive examination of protests cross- culturally ???