The Social Construction of Intellectual Disability

A range of case studies drawing upon ethnomethodological and conversationanalytic scholarship reveals how persons categorized as intellectuallydisabled are actu... » 

A range of case studies drawing upon ethnomethodological and conversationanalytic scholarship reveals how persons categorized as intellectuallydisabled are actually defined through their interaction with care staff andother professionals. Intellectual disability is usually thought of as a form ofinternal individual affliction differing little from diabetes paralysis orchronic illness. This studys application of discursive psychology tointellectual disability demonstrates that what is usually understood as beingan individual problem is actually an interactional or social product. «