The Feeling of Power and the Power of Feelings: Theorizing in Everyday Life

摘要

The place of theorizing disability in everyday lives was investigated and how theorizing that is available in academic discourse can move from the ivory tower to be the “stuff” of everyday life conversations, with practical usefulness when put in the hands of nonacademic users, was discussed. Examples in which accessibility to scholarly theory resonated with families and support staff in their daily lives were provided. A rights-based theorization of disability with its corresponding feeling of power was contrasted with a relationship-based theorization with its corresponding power of feelings. The contrast is suggested to demonstrate the usefulness of drawing on theorization to expose personal theories-in-operation and invigorate personal practices of inclusion.