1. Disability Studies A Nordic Perspective
Disability Studies Conference
Lancaster, July 2004
Rannveig Traustadóttir
Faculty of Social Science
University of Iceland

2. Disability Studies A Nordic Perspective
Overview
The Nordic context
Nordic Disability Studies/Disability Research
Similarities and difference with UK Disability studies
Is there a Nordic model of disability?
Understanding disability
Theoretical approaches
The social model of disability from a Nordic perspective
Disability studies as a field
Future of Nordic - UK connections

3. The Nordic Context Five Nordic countries Three self-governing regions
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden
Three self-governing regions
Åland Islands, Faeroe Islands & Greenland
Lapland - Sami people in the North
Crossing Norway, Sweden, Finland & North Russia

4. Nordic Situatedness and Politics of Location
How do we handle our located situatedness?
Empirical research
located in own country
lessons from others
lessons for others
Domination of UK and USA
important contributions
dominating and generalized
Non–English/ Non–UK/USA
must decide if we locate us or generalize
problems of language and translations

5. Disability & Disability Studies in the Nordic Countries
Historical and political context 1960s/70s
Citizenship and equality – basic principles and values of the welfare state
The principle of normalization was formulated in the Nordic countries
Disabled people’s movement
Independent living movement
Welfare provisions and human rights should be extended to all, including disabled people

6. Disability & Disability Studies in the Nordic Countries?
Historical and political context 1960s/70s
Critique of institutions – unacceptable living conditions and human rights violations
Critique of medical understanding of disability
Society and the environment should be be changed so disabled people could participate
‘Environmental turn’ - The focus shifted from the individual as the sole problem to include the social context
Top down reforms

7. NNDR Nordic Network on Disability Research
1992 FUN, Forskning om utveklingshemming I Norden
(Nordic Intellectual Disability Research)
1997 NNDR, Nordic Network on Disability Research
1999 SJDR, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

8. Nordic Disability Research
From NNDR Statutes
NNDR is a multidisciplinary network of disability researchers interested in cultural, societal and environmental dimensions of disability and marginalization.
The purpose and intention of NNDR is to promote and advance research and development in the field of disability.

9. Nordic Disability Research cont…
From NNDR Statutes cont…
NNDR provides a forum for disability researchers, particularly from the Nordic countries, to meet, present, and discuss their research, as well as encouraging Nordic and international exchange and collaboration.

10. UK Disability Studies From Lancaster 2004 conference
Disability Studies is concerned with the inter-disciplinary development of an increasing body of knowledge and practice, which has arisen from the activities of the disabled people’s movement, and which has come to be known as ‘the social model of disability.’

11. UK Disability Studies cont…
From Lancaster conference cont.
The social model of disability locates the changing character of disability, which is viewed as an important dimension of inequality, in the social and economic structure and culture of the society in which it is found, rather than in individual limitations.

12. Two Major Differences UK focus: Nordic focus: Disability Studies
The social model of disability
Nordic focus:
Disability Research
No one single theory or model of disability

13. Is there a Nordic Model of Disability?
No one single way or approach but a ‘family of ideas’
The Nordic relational model/approach
Three main characteristics
Disability is a person-environment mismatch (relationship/relational)
Disability is situational or contextual
Disability is relative
(Tøssebro 2002, 2004)

14. Understanding of Disability in the Nordic Countries
Issues of Language
‘Disability’ is an umbrella term for groups of people with different impairments
No unity within the Nordic countries about language use
The distinction between ‘disability’ and ‘impairment’ does not translate well into Nordic languages
‘Disabled people’ or ‘People with disabilities’
The term ‘disability studies’ is also difficult to translate into some Nordic languages

15. Nordic Disability Studies
Many disability scholars
Many disability focused courses
Single courses as part of other programs (social work, education, …)
Few disability studies programs - but are being developed – mostly MA programs
Doctoral students in many fields focus their work on disability
Not a clear definition of ‘disability studies’
DS and ‘traditional’ disability focused programs (rehab., special ed., …)

16. Theoretical Development in Nordic Disability Research
Most Nordic Disability research has been practical empirical policy oriented research
Main characteristics (Gustavsson 2004)
Non-theoretical approaches
The reformer’s perspective
(‘does-it-work’ approach)
Personal experiences
(‘Experience-near perspectives’)

17. Theoretical Development in Nordic Disability Research
Three main theoretical perspectives
Essentialist perspectives
Individual essentialism – the clinical model
Contextual essentialism – the social model
Constructionist perspectives
Linguistic constructionism
Cultural constructionism
Relative interactionist perspective
The most Nordic – originates in 1960s/70s as an alternative to the more individual, essential definitions of disability

18. Theoretical Development in Nordic Disability Research
Relative interactionist perspective
Takes the relative definition of disability seriously
Emphasizes a multi level approach and analysis
Empirical sensitivity
Different versions of the relative interactionist perspective can be identified

19. Approaches to Disability in the Nordic Countries
Given the most common understanding of disability and the theoretical approaches in Nordic disability research
there is a firm believe that no one theory, approach, method or model can bring all the answers
instead we must employ multiple ways and approaches - and keep looking for new ones
the complexity of human existence calls for multiple and complex methods and approaches

20. UK Social Model of Disability and the Nordic Countries
UK social model has received much attention among Nordic scholars, disabled people and professionals
The social model is in line with dominant understanding of disability in the Nordic countries
Has worked to re-vitalize and radicalize discussions and debates
Liberating for disabled people
Has directed Nordic attention to UK Disability Studies

21. UK Social Model of Disability and the Nordic Countries
The ‘disability’ – ‘impairment’ debate is confusing and not easily understandable in the Nordic lands
Which social model?
Is there one social model?
Linking DS to one model is difficult for Nordic scholars to relate to
Has been criticized by Nordic scholars

22. UK and Nordic Disability Studies Similarities and Differences
Social and environmental emphasis
Commitment to disability rights political agenda - and activism
Disabled researchers
Links to disabled people and
the disabled people’s movement
Theoretical perspectives
Issues of accessibility
Two major contributions
Nordic: Normalization
UK: Social model of disability
International influence

23. Disability Studies
Belongs to a group of ‘new’ multidisciplinary fields, e.g.
Feminist/women’s/gender studies
Lesbian and gay/queer studies
Ethnic minority studies

24. Disability Studies and Other Multidisciplinary Fields of Study
Similarities
Roots in social movements aimed to end oppression and marginalization
Scholarship and activism
Opposition to hegemonic normalcy
Critique of dominant theories
Challenging key concepts
Development of new methodologies
The biological and the social
Essentialism and constructivism
And much more …

25. Disability Studies and Other Multidisciplinary Fields of Study
Differences
At least one significant difference between DS and the other fields: Society has put in place service industry to ‘deal with’ disabled people and devotes much resources to it
Other differences
How big is the group in question
The individual’s relationship to the group
Historical, social and cultural context
And more…

26. Disability Studies and Other Multidisciplinary Fields of Study
What can DS learn from the other fields?
How did they start and develop?
Why are some flourishing and others experiencing backlash?
Historical and cultural contexts
Place in the academy (disciplinary affiliation, independent programs or integrated courses)
‘Fragmentation’ of the fields
Survival strategies

27. Nordic – UK Future Collaboration
NNDR has made conscious efforts to connect with UK disability scholars
Exciting ideas, debates, sophisticated theorizing, innovative methods, etc.
Geographical neighbors
Many similarities, social, cultural, political, etc.
From a Nordic perspective
these connections have been wonderful; challenging, expanding, fruitful and inspiring on a scholarly level - and
very rewarding on a personal level

28. Nordic - UK Future Collaboration
NNDR efforts
Working language of NNDR is English
NNDR conferences are in English
SJDR is an English language journal
English language series on Nordic disability research is being published
We invite, encourage, welcome and respect multiple and various perspectives

29. Nordic - UK Future Collaboration and Contacts
Next NNDR conference
Oslo, Norway
April 14 – 16, 2005 or
We welcome people from the UK
and other countries

30. References
Gustavsson, A. (2004). The role of theory in disability research: Springboard or strait-jacket? Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, Special Issue: Understanding Disability. 6(1),
Tøssebro, J. (2002). Leaving the individual out: Practical and logical problems. Paper presented at a Plenary Symposium “Understanding disability: The UK Social Model and the Nordic Relational Approach” at the 6th NNDR Conference, Disability Research, Theory and Practice, 22 – 24 August, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Tøssebro, J. (2004). Understanding disability: Introduction to the special issues of SJDR. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, Special Issue: Understanding Disability. 6(1), 3 – 7.