Critical disability studies and the affirmative non-tragedy model: presenting a theoretical frame for disability and child protection

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present an integrated theoretical frame for the subject matter of disability and child protection. Substantive complexities, alluded to in existing literature, surround disability in child protection work. The high stakes and emotionally provocative practice of child safeguarding is often made even more complex by the presence of disability. Difficult balances must be struck, and with a plurality of approaches to understanding disability now available, the proposition is that one emerging theoretical alliance may be of particular utility. Specifically, when used for the subject matter of child protection, an affirmative non-tragedy model of disability within overarching critical disability studies theory, is useful in dealing with the multiple possibilities surrounding disability and child protection. The intention is to present this theoretical frame along with some possibilities for its extension, as a means for all stakeholders to reconsider the complexity that disability and child protection entails.

Points of interest

• Disability is linked to some unique problems in the context of child protection such as that disabled children are more likely to be abused than non-disabled children.

• Other problems include that disability can mix with other identities in a way that makes risk more complex. Intellectually disabled parents can also experience prejudice and practitioners can struggle to understand and respond effectively to disability.

• Theorists within disability studies ought to deal with these problems.

• Part of the problems with disability and child protection is the way in which disability is thought about.

• The article presents an area of theory known as critical disability studies and a model known as the affirmative non-tragedy model and suggests that these are helpful in understanding issues to do with disability and child protection.

• Critical disability studies is about criticality and new thinking around disability.

• The non-tragedy model aims to prevent disability being linked to negativity.

Keywords:

• Child protection
• welfare
• disability
• critical disability studies
• affirmative
• disability theory

Acknowledgements

The constructive contribution of peer reviewers should be acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.