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Disability identity: exploring narrative accounts of disability
1Department of Psychology, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA 18018-6650, USA. dunn@moravian.edu
Rehabilitation Psychology
|February 27, 2013
Summary
Disability identity, a positive sense of self and community connection, aids adaptation to disability. Examining narratives reveals how individuals with disabilities build self-worth and personal meaning.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Disability identity involves a positive self-perception and connection to the disability community.
- A strong disability identity can facilitate adaptation to disability and management of social stressors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review disability identity as a key aspect of the social psychology of disability.
- To explore the psychosocial applications of disability identity through narrative analysis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of six narratives (articles, chapters, books, blogs) authored by individuals with disabilities.
- Identification and categorization of excerpts illustrating key themes of disability identity.
Main Results:
- Themes identified include communal attachment, affirmation of disability, self-worth, pride, experiences of discrimination, and personal meaning.
- Narrative excerpts were categorized based on established disability-identity research themes.
Conclusions:
- Studying disability narratives highlights positive aspects of disability identity, informing diverse audiences about living with disabilities.
- Rehabilitation researchers and practitioners are encouraged to integrate disability identity and narrative analysis into their work.
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