This qualitative analysis explores discernment in communication among disability professionals and disabled individuals in India, highlighting ethical implications.
Key Points
This analysis aims to explore the relational contexts in which disability professionals discern personhood among disabled individuals in India.
Ethnographic research conducted by authors in disability contexts in India.
Analysis of communication practices by special educators and speech therapists with disabled individuals.
Examination of relational processes and ethical considerations in professional interactions.
Special educators apply broad discernments to nonlinguistic cues in intellectually disabled individuals.
Speech therapists impose narrow definitions of language while training deaf children to communicate normatively.
Findings indicate that professionals recognize disabled individuals as having social needs similar to nondisabled peers.