Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

You are here

Why is cure such a vexed issue in disability communities that Eli Clare was moved to write an entire book about it?

nani's picture

Eli Clare examines how a "cure" is often used as a weapon against people with disabilities to takeaway agency, rights, and independence. Maybe it's the idea that there is a magic pill or special potion that will heal all ailments that ruins the word we use for treatment or the idea that the "cure" alone is found in elite academic research facilities and seemingly unattainably attainable. This can often lead one to think that the problem is the cure itself, but treatment can coexist with disablity acitivism. I think treatment is better word for cure because when you have a cold and take medicine it does not guranteee you will never get another cold again. For people who may have experienced broken both bones in their legs it takes years of treatment before recovering to previous levels of activity and function. Yet, there is no gurantee that their legs will never be broken again. People who undergo cancer treatment go into remission they are not cured of cancer because there is always a possibility of the cancer returning. So when we understand that treatment is not easy it requires a lot of support, science, love, time, and patience the idea fits much better into disability justice because you can see that it takes a community of people to come together and support each other through lifes health challenges. It also doesn't erase the disability while also keeping in mind the struggles people may face from their disabilities.