Power to people with disabilities : the construction of disable self-identities and social movements for self-determination

Abstract

The purposes of this study were twofold: 1) to analyze and interpret the power of the disabled through the construction of self-identities and social movements of persons with disabilities; and 2) to describe the interactions between power, identities, and social movements of the disabled. This study was qualitative research. The narration method, the interpretative approach, and the discourse analysis were used to analyze the data related to life stories and experiences of the disabled. Data were collected using: 1) in-depth interview with sixteen key informants, who were important members in Disabled Club of Mae Pa Sub-district, Mae Sot District, Tak Province and Disabled Club of Mae Tan Sub-district, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province; and 2) the interview with four government officials responsible for persons with disabilities work in Tak Province and four disabled persons, who were leaders of national organizations for persons with disabilities. Data collected were then analyzed using an interpretive approach under the postmodern paradigm. The results of this study indicated as in the followings: 1) the identities of the disabled constructed by the state and social discourse made the disabled powerless; 2) the establishment of the power of the disabled could be achieved by constructing four types of their self-identities with the following self- definitions: Type 1-I am not a disabled person; Type 2-I am a disabled person; Type 3-I am a valuable person, and Type 4-I create civilization; and 3) the process in social movements is important for the construction of self-identities, and the establishment of power the disabled and social movements could be both means and ends by empowering the disabled.