Incongruous encounters: the problem of accessing accessible spaces for people with dwarfism

Pritchard, Erin (2020) Incongruous encounters: the problem of accessing accessible spaces for people with dwarfism. Disability and Society. ISSN 1360-0508 (Online)

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Abstract

The recognition of disability as a social construct has aided in providing better access to the built environment for disabled people, through the implementation of accessible spaces. However, access to them is not straightforward for disabled people who do not match stereotypical representations of disability. Drawing on empirical data collected from semi structured interviews and photo elicitation exercises, conducted with people with dwarfism living in the UK, this paper shows how they are often challenged or denied access to accessible spaces, creating a hierarchy of impairments. Building on the notion of ‘statuarized spaces’ the paper demonstrates how access to accessible spaces is influenced by their representation, which differs from representations of dwarfism, leading to incongruous encounters. These incongruous encounters affect the spatial practices of people with dwarfism. A more varied representation of disability is required in order to provide people with dwarfism straightforward access to accessible spaces.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Dwarfism, accessible spaces, representations of disability, statuarized spaces, incongruous encounters
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Education and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Erin Pritchard
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2020 08:45
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2021 13:59
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/3060

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