Against Technoableism (book overview)

Sociology professor Beverly Yuen Thompson overviews the book, “Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement,” written by Ashley Shew (2023). In this short book of essays, Dr. Shew brings together her experiences as an academic researcher in the areas of technology, ethics, and embodiment to apply to the topic of disability from a critical perspective. As a disabled person herself, she reflects upon her own experiences, as well as the voices of disabled scholars and activists to discuss such topics as how disability can contribute to critical understandings of our materials and social worlds, media representations, the materiality of costs associated with disability technologies, neurodivergence, and perspectives on the future of our social context for all bodies. This book provides an insightful perspective for sociologists, medical workers, and those becoming educated on embodiment in social institutions.
Timeline:
0:00-4:14 introduction to book
4:15-9:12 chapter one: Disabled everything, p. 1-13
9:13-20:15 chapter two: Disorientation, p. 14-33
20:16-33:14 Chapter three: Scripts and crips, p. 34-45
33:15-43:56 Chapter four: New legs, old tricks, p. 46-76
43:57-49:16 Chapter five: The neurodivergent resistance, p. 76-113
49:17-54:37 Chapter six: Accessible futures, p. 114-132
54:38-55:37 Video conclusion

[@cidsimone]

I’m the single caregiver for my grandson Michael who is now 20 years old. For our circumstances, this topic broadens into the family and caregivers of those with profound disabilities who are unable to care for themselves even with adaptive devices. While this research seems extensive and comprehensive, I feel that it has only scratched the surface of the issues that I and others are presented with. Still I am so grateful for this book and your insightful review and I have shared this video and will continue to do so. Thanks again!

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Thanks so much for sharing your perspective and connection to the topic. Caregivers would be such a crucial and important topic and focus, definitely one that is almost entirely erased. That's a really good point and definitely makes me want to look into the topic, I can imagine a good amount of academic literature on it, but it needs to be discussed more in the popular conversations. Supports for caregivers would be a crucial addition to the infrastructure of supporting assistance. Best to you and cheers,

[@Ohtterz]

@@Snakegrrl_Sociology I think another critical, important facet to examine is that caregivers of disabled people are too often themselves also disabled and in need of their own supports and assistance which frequently goes unfulfilled. I am a 29 year old autistic person who is head of my household and I have a caregiver, that caregiver is my also autistic partner who could absolutely use support of his own.

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Thanks for your comment! Yes, totally agree that the text is offering a pretty basic introduction, but definitely new for most folks not exposed to the topic.

[@Sky-bx9mn]

It sounds like a good overview of disability/ableism basics*, though I'd prefer to see more caveating around the social model of disability. I've unfortunately seen people take that very key concept to heart as an end-all be-all rather than what it actually is: a non-exclusive major component of disability. Such people follow up by becoming dismissive about the impacts of pain/impairment/distress and the need for access to medication and medical research. *I call them basics, but I've suffered the impacts of someone in a high position /in disability services/ not understanding these concepts, so I suppose they're not basic for everyone.

[@Swingingbells]

I have many complicated thoughts which i can't express succinctly, but i really liked this video! Thank you for sharing this information and these insights!

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

@@Swingingbells thank you for watching and commenting, feel free to post thoughts later on.

[@davispatricks5453]

Thanks for spotlighting this important topic.

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Thank you 🙏

[@reallyidrathernot.134]

good. thanks.

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Thank you!

[@cidsimone]

Thanks so much for exploring this topic!

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Thank you!

[@roseeewater]

Me gustaba su explicación de este libro. Era una buena introducción a la conversación académica sobre la discapacidad. En el pasado he encontrado el área de estudio solamente tangencialmente en los otros áreas. Yo no tengo ningún discapacidad física pero el tema de los estereotipos sobre la discapacidad resonó conmigo en que recibo tratamiento similar en mi identidad cómo transgénero. La suposición es que quiero una transición médica y que sufro en mi estado actual, pero he encontrado que mi estado actual sin transición me da una perspectiva muy interesante y rica para entender la vida. En no querer necesariamente una transición médica, siento una distancia desde incluso las otras personas transgénero y mucho de la conversación contemporanea del género no tiene en cuenta esta perspectiva. Este es el primer video de usted que he visto; ¡me he suscrito y espero ver más de su canal!

[@Snakegrrl_Sociology]

Muchas gracias por tu comentario. Este libro también tiene una sección que habla sobre la intersección de lo trans y la neurodivergencia. Y, por supuesto, la identidad trans está muy medicalizada. Gracias por su suscripción y espero sus comentarios. Cheers!