Núcleo Disca

Disability and citizenship

Archive

  1. El derecho a la maternidad: Violencia ginecológica y obstétrica hacia mujeres con discapacidad en Chile [The right to motherhood: Gynecological and obstetric violence against women with disabilities in Chile]

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    Summary:

    “At a crucial historical moment, this book sheds light on the questions arising from the alarming decline in birth rates globally, and especially in Chile. This compilation, in which we find a wide range of researchers presenting their investigations and reflections, demonstrates that what is beginning to be understood globally, and in public opinion, as a problem, has a group of academics, intellectuals, and activists in our country reflecting on and proposing its causes and policies for solutions. This pluralistic argument allows us to understand “motherhood” in Chile, on the one hand, and the decline in birth rates, on the other, as the product of multiple factors that go beyond purely economic explanations. It is, therefore, a book that offers insights that enrich the debate, but above all—and perhaps therein lies its true contribution—that continues to raise questions.”

     

    Notes:

    • This description was written by Sonia Montecino Aguirre and appears on the back cover of the book “Maternities: Current Challenges of Gender, Family, and Fertility,” published by Fondo de Cultura Económica in Chile. The text “The Right to Motherhood: Gynecological and Obstetric Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Chile” corresponds to Chapter 23 of that book.
    • This book is not free. It is available for purchase at Fondo de Cultura Económica bookstores.
    • This book was originally published in Spanish.

  2. ‘¿Vino solita?’: Investigando las experiencias de madres con discapacidad [‘Did you come alone?’: Investigating the experiences of mothers with disabilities]

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    Points of interest:

    • The author reflects on the challenges faced by mothers with disabilities in Chile, based on her personal experience.
    • Based on data from the National Disability Survey and interviews, the chapter notes that many women with disabilities are mothers.
    • However, people with disabilities experience motherhood under surveillance, stigmatization, and a lack of support.
    • Society questions the parenting abilities of people with disabilities, which puts them at risk of losing custody of their children.
    • The text highlights that motherhood for women with disabilities is an act of resistance against ableism.
    • The text argues that women with disabilities can be mothers and that this enriches diversity, which is beneficial for society.

     

    Notes:

    • This publication is a chapter from the book “Maternities: Current Challenges of Gender, Family, and Fertility.”
    • This book is not free to access. It is available for purchase in “Fondo de Cultura Económica” bookstores.
    • This book was originally published in Spanish.

  3. Trayectorias de luchas de la Asociación de Personas con Discapacidad del Guayas, Ecuador y del Colectivo Nacional de la Discapacidad de Chile [Struggles and Paths of the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Guayas, Ecuador, and the National Disability Collective of Chile]

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    Points of interest:

    • This article studies two organizations of people with disabilities: ASODISG in Ecuador and CONADIS in Chile. The goal is to understand how these organizations fight for their rights and how they take part in politics to raise issues and demands of people with disabilities.
    • Historically, people with disabilities have been excluded from important decisions. That is why disability social movements seek to have a voice and to change public policies based on their own experiences.
    • Disability movements have started using a human rights approach to defend the dignity, equality, and participation of people with disabilities. This approach sees people with disabilities as rights-holders, not as objects of charity.
    • The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was very important for disability movements in Latin America. Although many countries signed it, there is still a big gap between the promises and what is actually done.
    • Ableism is a form of discrimination that treats people with disabilities as less valuable. Current policies favor more “productive” people and exclude those who do not fit that model.
    • The article highlights that the bodies of people with disabilities are not “passive objects”, but have the power to change reality. Marches, protests, and meetings are examples of this.
    • The article uses a qualitative case study approach. Interviews, focus groups, and direct participation in the organizations were done to understand the experiences of activists and how they organize to defend the rights of people with disabilities.
    • Although the International Convention is important, disability movements in Ecuador and Chile have gone further, creating their own ways of fighting that are also connected to other social movements in their communities.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  4. Insumos y recomendaciones para políticas públicas e intervención social en torno a las luchas de las personas con discapacidad en América Latina [Guidelines and Recommendations for Public Policies and Social Intervention Regarding the Struggles of People with Disabilities in Latin America]

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    Points of interest:

    • It is necessary to create laws and institutions that truly respond to the needs of people with disabilities. This includes moving away from outdated models that view disability solely as a medical issue.
    • People with disabilities must directly participate in the creation of policies and programs that affect them.
    • It is important to recognize that women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, children, adolescents, Indigenous peoples, and racialized people with disabilities face different barriers. Therefore, state actions must be sensitive to these differences and ensure appropriate support for each group.
    • It is urgent to eliminate the figure of “interdiction” that still exists in several countries, which prevents many people with disabilities from making decisions about their own lives, bodies, or property.
    • A set of recommendations is proposed to realize self-determination and combat discrimination against people with disabilities.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  5. ‘Who am I to write this?’: An approach to the field of feminist disability studies in Latin America

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    Summary of chapter:

    The aim of this chapter is to provide an initial overview of the field of feminist disability studies in Latin America, through a literature review and interviews with academics who research disability from a feminist perspective. In this chapter, we analyze: (a) how feminist disability studies are linked to feminisms, (b) the strategies that academics develop to counteract hegemonic and colonial ways of constructing knowledge, and their connection with communities, and (c) how academics position themselves within a field supported by the relevance of lived experience in disability studies.

     

    Notes:

  6. Health care reforms and policies from a disability-rights perspective

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    Summary of chapter:

    People with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged social groups, as they experience higher levels of poverty, lower literacy rates, higher unemployment rates, multiple discrimination, and more barriers to accessing health services, compared to the general population.

    In the current pandemic context, people with disabilities are disproportionately affected due to environmental, institutional, and information access barriers, which are exacerbated by the measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to combat the pandemic have intensified health inequities and created new vulnerabilities for this population group.

    This chapter focuses on the principles of non-discrimination, inclusivity, continuity, relevance, and equity in both health reforms and public policies related to this area, from a disability perspective. The case of Chile is used to investigate whether these reforms and policies promote equitable access to and use of health services for people with disabilities, and how they are implemented. This topic is particularly important given that the country is in the process of amending its constitution, including the articles concerning the health system.

    While people with disabilities are often overlooked in research on access to health, it is imperative to promote inclusive health policies in order to reduce the vulnerability index of this group, especially in a scenario of economic instability and health emergencies.

     

    Notes:

  7. La lectura fácil como herramienta para el acceso a la justicia de las personas con discapacidad intelectual y del desarrollo en América Latina [Easy reading as a tool for access to justice for people with intellectual and development disabilities in Latin America]

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    Points of interest:

    • Easy-to-Read as a Solution: This research proposes adapting texts into Easy-to-Read format as an urgent practice to reduce the inequality gap and ensure that this group can make their own decisions and exercise their rights on equal terms.
    • The author emphasizes that support mechanisms are tangible ways to guarantee effective participation. This includes eliminating legal guardianship and replacing it with supported decision-making models.
    • Significant obstacles are identified, such as physical, communicative, and attitudinal barriers within the judicial system.

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by the Millennium Nucleus for People with Disabilities (DISC) and is based exclusively on the publication. Therefore, it cannot be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  8. Sin detección, sin denuncia y sin proceso: la vulneración de derechos de niñas y niños con discapacidad intelectual en Chile [Undetected, unreported and unprosecuted: the violation of the rights of children with intellectual disabilities in Chile]

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    Summary:

    Speaking of Children and Adolescents (CNA) instead of the generic term “child” to refer to the diverse individuals within this group, or beginning to speak of childhoods in the plural, is a step forward in recognizing the diversity of voices and actors. When we say that all children are subjects of rights and not objects of protection, this implies active participation in forums where issues affecting them are addressed. This principle applies to CNA with typical development, but also to CNA with disabilities, with children with intellectual disabilities (ID) being the most frequently questioned when it comes to “presuming competence.” CNA with ID are more vulnerable than their neurotypical peers to rights violations and, especially, to sexual abuse. In this chapter, we provide a review of rights, focusing on CNA with disabilities, examining the case of CNA with ID as one that requires special attention. We present a summary of the barriers to accessing justice and propose a model of conscious and respectful care that improves access to justice for this group. Future research, with numerous ethical safeguards, should examine the situation of children and adolescents with disabilities from an empirical perspective.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by the Millennium Nucleus DISCA and is based exclusively on the publication. Therefore, it cannot be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

     

  9. Participation and (Human) Occupation

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    Summary:

    This book gives occupational therapy students, science students, and practitioners a comprehensive overview of key concepts about human occupation, while also presenting a wide range of perspectives for observing and understanding the work of occupational therapy and occupational science.

    The book is composed of 40 chapters and is divided into 5 sections:

    • Section 1: Overview of Human Occupation. This section introduces the field of occupational therapy and its conceptual landscape, including different models of therapeutic practice and practical reasoning.
    • Section 2: Contemporary Perspectives on Human Occupation. Includes critical perspectives on disability and race, and the philosophical foundations of occupational science.
    • Section 3: Main Concepts. Explanations of the conceptual language of human occupation, through discussions linked to the individual, the social, the psychological, the physical, performance, and the environment.
    • Section 4: Human Occupation throughout the lifespan and its course. It encompasses the development of human occupation from childhood to old age.
    • Section 5: Domains and Types of Human Occupation. From sleep to play, from sexuality to social participation, and from education to work.

     

    With an exceptionally international scope, each chapter of this edited book includes learning objectives, key terms, summary notes, questions, and a list of additional online resources for readers. This is a comprehensive resource for anyone beginning a course in occupational therapy, clinicians seeking an accessible reference to support their practice, or occupational scientists needing access to contemporary concepts related to occupation.

    Notes: