No Pity and My Body Politic: A Disability Studies Comparison

Introduction

This paper addresses five questions regarding No Pity by Joseph P. Shapiro and four questions about My Body Politic by Simi Linton. Quotations drawn directly from each book are used to support the answers provided throughout.

Shapiro: Medical Model vs. PDSP Definition of Disability

The first question asks for a differentiation between the medical model of disability and the model presented by the PDSP. As noted on page five of the Shapiro text, there are hundreds of disabilities that manifest in one or more ways depending on the particular disorder in question. Shapiro addresses this directly, writing that "some are congenital; most come later in life. Some are progressive, like muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and some forms of vision and hearing loss." He goes on to discuss other disorders such as seizure disorders and cancer.

The medical model of disability tends to define disability broadly across a wide spectrum of conditions. The PDSP definition, by contrast, focused more narrowly on people with obvious physical limitations — those requiring a wheelchair or another assistive device. This focus was incorporated into their outreach method, as the group "hired disabled counselors who would scope out available and accessible departments for people in wheelchairs." The PDSP clearly concentrated on obstacles that impeded independent living and offered solutions to address them. Shapiro's discussion of the PDSP does not appear to address less obvious disabilities as encompassed by the standard medical definition.

Shapiro: Historical Attitudes, Institutionalization, and Policy Change

The second question concerns the changing attitudes toward people with disabilities over the years — from the founding of the country to the present — and how the care and agencies used to address the plight of disabled people have evolved over time. The Shapiro text offers substantial material on this subject. One subheading goes into considerable detail about the suffering of disabled people throughout much of American history. A particularly striking passage notes that "early colonies put a premium on physical stamina." It is also noted that "people with physical or mental disabilities who were potentially dependent could be deported, forced to return to England."

Progress accelerated when it was discovered that "disabled people could be integrated into society rather than sent away to institutions." This shift set off a chain reaction that eventually led to modern frameworks and policies such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Conclusion

Both Shapiro and Linton bristle at the mistreatment, past and present, of disabled people. They want to be able to live normal lives just like able-bodied people, and they want the distinction of their lives being recognized as worth just as much as others'. They do not want their disability to dominate or take over the interactions and behaviors of others when it is not applicable to the situation at hand. Put simply, if someone arrives in a wheelchair, a simple "hi" is far more respectful than gratuitously and unnecessarily drawing attention to the chair.