Growing up in a Mainstream World: A Retrospective Enquiry into the Childhood Experiences of Young Adults with a Physical Disability

Abstract

a tayside centre for counselling, abertay university, Dundee, scotland; b school of social & Health sciences, abertay university, Dundee, scotland ABSTRACT Children with disabilities are at greater risk of developing mental health problems than their peers, yet the emotional well-being of this group is largely overlooked and there is scant literature about children with a mobility disability. This study examined the retrospective experiences of growing up with mobility disability. The sample comprised 16-25 year olds with mobility disability. A thematic analysis, informed by grounded theory was used. Themes identified included a common socio-educational journey, conflict between care and independence in school and the impact of being singled out because of disability outside school. The result was a range of psychosocial issues that affected participants' view of themselves and the world around them. The study also looked at what the participants found helpful in dealing with the emotional impact of their disability. Whilst some sought help through talking therapies, others found involvement in disability sport was helpful.

Missing Pieces: Engaging Sociology of Disability in Medical Sociology

“…Interestingly, recent literature on countering the negative effects of racism suggests that positive cultural identification, strong community ties, and a positive self-concept are possible interventions that may help mitigate disparities (Okeke-Adeyanju et al 2014). Likewise, studies indicate that positive disability identification contributes to healthy self-concept, self-esteem, and increases in well-being (Conrad and Barker 2010;Lumsdaine and Thurston 2017). The large body of scholarship in medical sociology that exists on these issues offers a unique opportunity to engage discussions of ableism and contribute to understandings of how disability and ableism appear in the structure and culture of healthcare and, among other things, affect outcomes.…”

(Re)creating a healthy self in and through disability sport: autoethnographic chaos and quest stories from a sportswoman with cerebral palsy

“…Children's experiences of sport and exercise were not the focus of these studies. However, Lumsdaine and Thurston (2017) highlight the centrality of sport in the lives of some children with physical disabilities and the positive impact this had on their confidence, self-esteem, personal growth and emotional wellbeing in their broader findings on children's retrospective accounts of growing up with a disability. However, studies on disabled children's experiences of sport and exercise have looked at those with visual impairments (Scally and Lord 2019), intellectual disabilities (Harada and Siperstein 2009;Smith et al 2015) or various disabilities (Shields and Synnot 2016).…”

“…Individuals' various impairments, illnesses and conditions, needs and abilities will determine their experiences (Noh and Posthuma 1990). Thus, to form clearer and more meaningful understandings of disabled peoples' realities, it is necessary to identify subpopulations whose data will inform our understanding of and for individuals with a particular difficulty (Lumsdaine and Thurston 2017). To date, literature on disabled peoples' experiences of sport (and exercise) is dominated by a focus on those who have acquired physical disabilities, particularly men with spinal cord injuries (e.g.…”

“…However, the experiences of those with congenital physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, are marginalised within this context. Indeed, there is a relative absence of children's experiences across disability literature and this needs further attention (Lumsdaine and Thurston 2017;Watson et al 1999;Watson 2012).…”

“…A small collection of work has sought to overcome this. Connors and Stalker (2007), Lumsdaine and Thurston (2017) and Watson et al (1999) all captured children's experiences in and through their research on children and young people with a disability. Children's experiences of sport and exercise were not the focus of these studies.…”