Some good days, some low days: experiences of disability in academic workplaces

Horton, J. and Tucker, F. (2010) Some good days, some low days: experiences of disability in academic workplaces. Paper presented to: Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) Annual Conference, London, England, 01-03 September 2010. (Unpublished)

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Abstract:	This paper reflects upon research with 75 geographers and earth/environmental scientists who describe themselves as having a ‘disabling’ physical or mental condition. Through their often deeply-moving accounts, these respondents articulated something of the affective experience of living with mind-body-emotional-difference in the context of academic workplaces/careers. Broadly, two kinds of experience recurred in these accounts. For some respondents (typically those with sensory or mobility impairments) the experience or onset of ‘disability’ sparked impassioned activist dispositions and politicised work to transform academic practices, workplaces, institutions and disciplines. However, for others (typically those with ‘mental health’ conditions), experiences of ‘ill-health’ were described in terms of anxiety, loss, distress, failure and an anticipatory sense of the impossibility of disclosing their condition within their workplace and discipline. In this paper, we trace some ways in which such different experiences are distributed across, and afforded by, the diverse sites, practices, norms and subtle everyday interactions of contemporary academic workplaces/careers
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Mental health, disability, academia
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV1551 People with disabilities L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education > LB2331.7 Teaching personnel G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) > G73 Study and teaching
Creators:	Horton, John and Tucker, Faith
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > The Centre for Children and Youth University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date:	2 September 2010
Date Type:	Presentation
Event Title:	Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) Annual Conference
Event Dates:	01-03 September 2010
Event Location:	London, England
Event Type:	Conference
Language:	English
Status:	Unpublished
Refereed:	No
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2719

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