This thesis analysed the extent to which physically impaired individuals are given deviant burial treatment in death in the late Roman and early medieval periods in central and southern Britain....Show moreThis thesis analysed the extent to which physically impaired individuals are given deviant burial treatment in death in the late Roman and early medieval periods in central and southern Britain. Until recently, disability has been overlooked in archaeological research, and modern biases have been unfairly projected on the past. This thesis made use of a literature review of excavation reports as well as osteological analyses to gain an understanding of the different ways individuals with physical impairments were treated after death, using five criteria by which to measure normative and non-normative practices: the treatment of the body, the type of internment, the funerary goods, the grave location and alignment, and the position of the body. Twelve graves containing impaired people were analysed specifically, allowing a comparison to be made between normative and deviant customs, and between these practices and those applied to these specific burials. This analysis revealed variability in treatment, and while deviancy was observed, this was not explicitly linked to negative attitudes towards disability. Furthermore, while there were differences between the two periods, considerable continuity in traditions could also be observed.Show less
Research has shown that there is little social inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education. This study examined the extent to which a specific play intervention, i.e., Loose...Show moreResearch has shown that there is little social inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education. This study examined the extent to which a specific play intervention, i.e., Loose Parts Play (LPP), improved social inclusion of children with disabilities who attend mainstream schools. An LPP intervention was conducted with two classes at a mainstream school. The classes included 42 children (mean = 9.79; age-range = 9-11), out of whom three were deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) or had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children were observed and wore sensors during break time. The children and classroom teachers filled out questionnaires and an interview was conducted with the playground teachers at the end of the intervention. The following variables were examined: 1) quantity of social interactions; 2) variety of interaction partners; 3) social play; 4) peer acceptance; 5) friendships; and 6) social well-being. An increase was found in the variety of interaction partners as well as a decrease in the proportions of social interactions and social play in the total sample. Before the intervention, children with disabilities scored lower on the proportion of social interactions; the proportion of social play interactions; and all peer acceptance and friendship variables compared to their peers. This did not improve during LPP. LPP had little effect on the total sample and failed to improve the social inclusion of children with disabilities. These results suggest the need of more research aiming at social and emotional effects of LPP, especially for children with disabilities since these results are based on three children.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis explores Woolf’s relationship with eugenics, illness, and disability, a relationship that is characterized by ambiguity and contradictions, and has divided the critics in their...Show moreThis thesis explores Woolf’s relationship with eugenics, illness, and disability, a relationship that is characterized by ambiguity and contradictions, and has divided the critics in their assessment of Woolf’s work in relation to disability and illness. This thesis is an intervention in this debate by analyzing how Woolf conceives of and conceptualizes notions of illness and disability. This thesis further aims to investigate whether she can be considered a proto-crip theorist. It argues that Woolf’s ambiguity and contradiction in her attitudes towards disability allow for and encourage a crip theoretical reading, and that ultimately, Woolf can certainly be called a nascent crip theorist in her rejection of bodily normativity and in her celebration of non-normative bodyminds, as well as in the ways in which she deconstructs ableist ideologies. The result is a thesis that offers us significant insights into how Woolf in particular and modernist art, literature, and culture in general, conceived of disability, but it also allows us to trace the continuities and differences between attitudes toward disability during the early twentieth century and these attitudes in the present day.Show less
This thesis gives a comparative account of the history of organising among LGBTI disabled people in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Taking an intersectional...Show moreThis thesis gives a comparative account of the history of organising among LGBTI disabled people in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Taking an intersectional approach, this thesis sheds light on the experiences of those who were multiply-identified, and on the isolating impact that groups organised around one singular identity could have. Moreover, beyond addressing homophobia in disabled spaces and ableism in the lesbian and gay subculture, this thesis focuses on how disabled LGBTI people organised themselves as a response to these exclusions. Thus, based on archival and oral sources, this thesis shows how disabled LGBTI people navigated both LGBTI and disabled spheres, and how and why they created or used disabled LGBTI spheres and content. Additionally, this thesis analyses processes of positive identity formation and the use of emancipatory rhetoric in disabled lesbian and gay groups. These developments are discussed in relation to the national contexts these groups existed in, specifically with regards to the broader lesbian and gay movements, and the disability movements. Finally, this thesis takes into account implicit or explicit processes of inclusion and exclusion, with regards to transgender people, people of colour, and people with intellectual disabilities. The creation of implicit or explicit boundaries to group membership worked to create a normative identity within disabled lesbian and gay groups as well. This illustrates the importance of the intersectional approach taken in this thesis, which allows space for those identifying along other axes beyond disability and lesbian and gay subjectivities.Show less
Addressing the issue of social inclusion in South Asia has been a popular subject recently for academics and a target point for developmental organisations. However, there has been an evident lack...Show moreAddressing the issue of social inclusion in South Asia has been a popular subject recently for academics and a target point for developmental organisations. However, there has been an evident lack of attention given to the inclusive participation of disabled persons, which is consequently reflected in emancipatory policies and programmes. According to UNICEF, four fifths of disabled peoples live in developing nations, which is an immense portion of the population to be overseen. Thus this thesis intends to evaluate what the implications of disability are with regards to inclusive economic and socio-political participation in South Asia, whilst drawing perspectives from Bangladesh.Show less
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are the biggest marginalised group in the world, especially within the context of the global South. Having a disability is linked to extreme poverty because of...Show morePersons with disabilities (PWDs) are the biggest marginalised group in the world, especially within the context of the global South. Having a disability is linked to extreme poverty because of lacking social services, high medical costs and low employment rates. These challenges contribute to a low self-esteem among young persons with physical impairments. On top of that, societal prejudices and negatives stereotypes about PWDs only further deteriorate their situation. This thesis clarifies the potential that role models have in disability advocacy, something that has never been researched before. Field research in Zambia demonstrated that role models have the potential to (1) address the negative self-esteem of youth with disabilities, (2) stimulate their pro-active attitude, (3) strengthen their ability to speak out and (4) enhance group solidarity. These outcomes are realised through indirect engagement between role models and disabled youth (through observation) and direct engagement (through teaching and feedback).Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Men beschouwt het vermogen om te communiceren vaak als evident. Wanneer we echter gaan praten met doven en slechthorenden merken we hoe zeer we een zintuig als ons gehoor moeten waarderen. Het...Show moreMen beschouwt het vermogen om te communiceren vaak als evident. Wanneer we echter gaan praten met doven en slechthorenden merken we hoe zeer we een zintuig als ons gehoor moeten waarderen. Het verliezen van het gehoor, of het nu veel of weinig is, zal gevolgen hebben voor de communicatie met anderen, en dus voor de toegang tot sociale relaties, locaties en het vervullen van behoeften. Het missen van een communicatiemiddel zoals gehoor zorgt ervoor dat men nieuwe manieren moet zoeken om sociale relaties te kunnen onderhouden. Daarnaast zullen bepaalde locaties niet meer gemakkelijk of zelfs helemaal niet toegankelijk zijn. Dit alles heeft tot gevolg dat men niet meer in alle eigen behoeftes kan voorzien. Denk hierbij aan zoiets simpels als naar de favoriete muziek luisteren of tot het kunnen communiceren met een vriend enzovoorts. Of iemand nu doof of slechthorend wordt geboren of dit op latere leeftijd meemaakt, het zal hoe dan ook de persoon beperken in zijn of haar toegang.Show less
