Narratives and Counternarratives: Parents' Experiences With Dis/Abilities

• In Event: 16.019 - Counternarratives/Testimonios/Mestizaje Epistemologies

Abstract

In this paper, I explore parental narratives and counter-narratives of dis/ability. The purpose of this qualitative study, which employs in-depth interviews and analysis of publically available documents, is to describe how parents/ guardians’ experiences with and understandings of disability impact both the narratives they tell and actions they take when advocating for their children. Through the analysis of 15 interviews of parents who self identify as advocates and/or activists, I seek to understand the ways in which parents reject narratives of deficit and challenge structural barriers in society and in schools. This research is important because parental counter-narrative can problematize notions of deficit and contribute to a fundamental rethinking of education practices for children with disability.

Author

• Kelly P. Vaughan, Purdue University Northwest